Dolly Singh recently shared that she followed a harsh crash diet to gain weight, which involved eating bananas and drinking a bottle of aerated beverage after every meal. In a recent podcast episode of Yuvaa, the content creator shared her mindset when she aimed to gain a few pounds, following skinny-shaming on social media.
“Uss time pe the one thing I would do as a crash diet was eat a lot of bananas, like 10 rupay mein 4 bananas aate thhe, toh aap woh khaa lo. I was drinking a lot of Coke. This is when I started making money, toh ek pet bottle aata tha Coca Cola ka, woh main har meal ke saath leti thi, because I thought sabka weight gain hota tha toh isse mera ho jaye toh kya hi faraq padhta hai,” she told the host.
However, the method never worked. “Till the time you actually don’t accept the body for what it is, the change will not happen. The day you accept your body and love your body, because it’s still serving you. It’s giving you the nutrients, it’s making you function (sic),” Singh added.
The eating pattern raises several concerns from a nutrition and health standpoint.
Why is a crash diet like this harmful to health?
Deepalakshmi, registered dietitian at The Cranial and Cleft Centre, Shree Balaji Medical Institute, Chennai, told indianexpress.com that bananas are calorie-dense and rich in natural sugars, particularly fructose and glucose. While they do offer some nutritional benefits, such as potassium, vitamin B6, and dietary fiber, “eating them in excessive amounts without balancing with other food groups may lead to digestive discomfort like bloating or constipation. Moreover, bananas alone cannot provide the protein or healthy fats required for balanced and sustainable weight gain,” said the expert.
Skinny shaming can lead to eating disorders (Source: Freepik)
In fact, drinking a bottle of fizzy drinks after every meal significantly increases daily sugar consumption.
Deepalakshmi said a single bottle contains around 35 to 40 grams of added sugar, equivalent to 8 to 10 teaspoons. Having this multiple times a day means a person could be consuming over 100 grams of added sugar daily.
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“This not only contributes to rapid fat gain—particularly around the abdominal region—but also increases the risk of insulin resistance, prediabetes, and even type 2 diabetes in the long run. To add to that, sugar-sweetened beverages like Coke are linked to dental problems, including enamel erosion and tooth decay,” she clarified.
Such a diet is also extremely limited in nutritional diversity. It lacks adequate protein, healthy fats, and a range of essential vitamins and minerals. According to her, over time, this kind of nutritional imbalance can lead to fatigue, poor skin and hair health, weakened immunity, and nutrient deficiencies. “Moreover, relying on a crash diet for physical changes can promote unhealthy relationships with food and encourage disordered eating patterns,” she added.
In contrast, healthy weight gain should come from a well-balanced, calorie-rich diet that includes good quality proteins like legumes, dairy, eggs, and lean meats; healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, and oils; and whole grains and vegetables for fiber and micronutrients. Incorporating strength training can also help promote muscle gain rather than just fat accumulation, concluded Deepalakshmi.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.