Goop often faces criticism for the extreme and unconventional practices it recommends. It’s part of the reason it’s so renowned.
Over the summer, Goop printed a Q&A with Tracy Anderson on how to lose weight fast. In the article, Anderson recommends jump-starting weight loss by working out every day, eliminating gluten and sticking to a low-carb diet.
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Since it went live, the article has received backlash from many people. However, this criticism picked up when nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert told The Independent this week that this advice is actually “extremely damaging.” She explains that fast weight loss is actually losing water weight, not body fat. She points out that all it’s really about is seeing numbers on a scale decrease.
She claims that this type of diet advice is “scientifically incorrect,” that research has shown that every diet will work only because of overall energy reduction, not the actual diet itself.
She further explains that going on a low-carb diet when working out every day could affect your recovery time. As for the gluten-free aspect, she explains that some gluten-free products are actually worse for you than the originals thanks to the typically added ingredients.
“I am in complete shock that this article has been published as this has the potential to harm a lot of relationships with food,” said Lambert.
Being used to this sort of backlash, Goop seemed to have no problem defending the article and Tracy Anderson. In a statement to E! News, a representative from the brand said, “We would never advocate for an unhealthy diet or extreme routine. As Tracy said in the interview, you should make choices based on what is best for your individual body.”
A spokesperson for Anderson’s team also commented, telling E! News, “Over the course of her 20-year career, Tracy has consistently practiced owning a 1–2 pound weight loss per week when someone has unhealthy weight to lose. Owning a 1–2 pound weight loss per week is different than simply dropping 1–2 pounds per week, which causes people to hold onto unhealthy weight. Of the 14 pounds that someone could effectively lose in a month—if they have excess weight on them—the goal is to own 8 pounds of that, which is aligned with Tracy’s practice of not living on extreme diets.”
We have reached out and are waiting to hear back from a nutritionist to get their professional input on the diet and criticism.
