MAKKAH: The Ministry of Health has warned against using unscientific diets as a substitute for prescribed and supervised medical treatment.
“The warning comes in response to documented cases in which individuals suffered adverse health effects after discontinuing insulin or other diabetes medications based on recommendations linked to popular diets,” the ministry stated recently.
According to the ministry, some individuals used these diets as alternatives to prescribed medications or reduced the dosage of treatments for chronic diseases without medical consultation.
Several people subsequently required emergency intervention and intensive care admission due to severe hyperglycemia and diabetes-related complications.
The ministry warned that categorizing foods as “beneficial” or “harmful,” or excluding essential food groups without medical justification, can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients. It warned against promoting excessive consumption of sugars or saturated fats as a safe option for everyone.
The ministry said a healthy diet should be balanced and varied, incorporating ample vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit, whole grains, and a range of protein sources, while limiting added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages, saturated fats, and salt.
It urged anyone who has stopped taking or reduced the dosage of prescribed medication to consult their doctor immediately rather than wait for complications to develop.
It also said individuals should consult physicians and licensed nutritionists before adopting any diet intended for therapeutic purposes in order to protect their health and ensure appropriate medical supervision.
The ministry urged the public to obtain health information from official and reliable sources, such as the “Live Healthy” platform, the Ministry of Health’s official health awareness portal, or by seeking medical advice through its 937 call center.
It warned against being misled by misinformation or unsubstantiated health claims, stressing the importance of relying on credible sources to protect public health and safeguard the well-being of society.
Dr. Vivian Mohamad Wehbe, a clinical nutritionist, told Arab News that social media platforms have recently seen the emergence of a growing trend known as the “good foods diet.”
She said the diet encourages patients to stop taking their medications and instead rely on foods high in sugars and saturated fats while completely avoiding fruits and vegetables.
“This is a clear violation of scientific principles and poses a direct threat to patients’ health,” Wehbe warned.
“According to the Ministry of Health, stopping medication without medical supervision can lead to serious complications, particularly for patients with chronic diseases,” she said.
Wehbe added that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority has highlighted “the importance of balanced diets and reducing saturated fats and sugars, citing their link to higher levels of harmful cholesterol, increased inflammation, and insulin resistance.
“Promoting such foods as a treatment, goes against established health recommendations.”
She said that restricting fruits and vegetables, key sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, can result in nutritional deficiencies, digestive problems, and weakened immunity.
“There is no scientific evidence supporting such diets or the exclusion of entire food groups,” she said.
Wehbe said the prevalence of these diets reflects patients’ search for quick fixes. However, these practices are essentially commercial exploitation of patients.
“Nutritional therapy is an important part of treatment, but it cannot replace medication,” she stressed. “Patient health should never be subject to experimentation or unsubstantiated claims.”
“It is important to raise awareness of the risks associated with these diets and to promote adherence to scientifically approved dietary plans under the supervision of qualified professionals to protect patients’ health and well-being,” she said.
