Seventeen female nutrition students in Sweden participated in a study where they followed two different strict diets for four weeks each to understand what their future patients experience. The students tried either a healthy balanced diet based on Nordic nutrition guidelines or a ketogenic (very low-carb, high-fat) diet, with all meals prepared for them. By interviewing the students about their experiences, researchers discovered that following strict diets was harder than expected—students struggled with losing control over food choices, experienced surprising physical and emotional effects, and felt self-conscious eating differently from friends. However, the students also appreciated gaining firsthand knowledge that will help them become better nutrition counselors. This research suggests that having dietitians personally experience strict diets could improve how they help patients stick to dietary changes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How do nutrition students feel and what do they learn when they have to follow strict diets for a month?
  • Who participated: Seventeen healthy young women (ages 18-30) who were studying to become dietitians at a Swedish university. All participants completed the full four-week diet periods.
  • Key finding: Students found that following strict diets was surprisingly difficult because they lost control over food choices, experienced unexpected physical and mental effects, and felt awkward eating differently than their friends. However, they valued the learning experience for their future careers.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests that nutrition counselors who have personally experienced strict diets may be better at understanding and helping patients follow dietary changes. If you’re working with a dietitian, they may have more empathy for the challenges you face. Keep in mind this study was small and only included healthy young women, so results may not apply to everyone.

The Research Details

This was a qualitative study, which means researchers focused on understanding people’s personal experiences and feelings rather than just measuring numbers. The study was part of a larger randomized controlled feeding trial, which is a rigorous research design. Seventeen female nutrition students participated in two separate four-week diet periods. In one period, they followed the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (a balanced, healthy eating approach), and in the other period, they followed a ketogenic diet (very low in carbohydrates and high in fat). Between the two diet periods, there was a “washout period” where students returned to eating normally, allowing any effects from the first diet to wear off before starting the second one. All meals were prepared and provided to the students, so they didn’t have to make food choices themselves—they simply ate what was given to them. After each diet period ended, researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with the students, asking them about their experiences. These interviews happened between one and thirty-five days after finishing each diet period.

This research approach is important because it captures the real human experience of following strict diets—something that numbers alone cannot show. By having nutrition students (people trained in nutrition science) experience these diets firsthand and then reflect on their experiences, researchers gained insights into why people struggle with dietary changes and what support they need. This type of qualitative research helps identify practical problems that quantitative studies might miss, such as the emotional difficulty of losing food choices or the social challenges of eating differently from friends.

This study has both strengths and limitations. Strengths include that it was part of a well-designed randomized controlled trial, all participants completed the full intervention, and the researchers used systematic content analysis to organize the interview data. Limitations include the small sample size (only 17 people), the fact that all participants were healthy young women (results may not apply to men, older adults, or people with health conditions), and that participants were nutrition students who may have different perspectives than the general population. Additionally, the study was conducted in Sweden, so cultural factors specific to that country may have influenced results.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that following strict diets was much more challenging than the students expected, even though they understood the nutrition science behind the diets. Students reported three major challenges: First, they struggled with the loss of control over food choices. Even though the meals were nutritionally balanced and prepared well, not being able to choose what to eat made them feel frustrated and restricted. Second, students experienced unexpected physical and emotional effects from the diet restrictions. Some felt tired, irritable, or experienced cravings that surprised them. Third, students felt socially uncomfortable eating differently from their friends and family, especially when eating out or at social gatherings. These challenges were real even though the students were educated about nutrition and understood why they were following the diets. The students’ struggles highlight how difficult it is to stick to dietary changes, even when you have knowledge and support.

Beyond the challenges, students also reported positive aspects of the experience. They appreciated contributing to scientific research and felt that the hands-on experience would make them better dietitians in the future. Students recognized that going through this experience gave them empathy and understanding for the patients they would eventually counsel. They also gained practical knowledge about how different diets affect the body and mind, which they can now use in their professional practice. Several students mentioned that the structured meal provision actually helped them understand portion sizes and meal planning better. The experience seemed to deepen their commitment to helping patients navigate dietary changes with compassion.

This research builds on existing knowledge that dietary adherence (sticking to a diet) is difficult for most people. Previous studies have shown that willpower and knowledge alone aren’t enough to maintain dietary changes—social factors, food preferences, and practical constraints all play important roles. This study adds to that understanding by showing that even nutrition professionals, who have extensive knowledge about healthy eating, find strict diets challenging. It suggests that the difficulty isn’t simply a lack of understanding, but rather involves real psychological and social barriers that affect everyone. The finding that firsthand experience improves empathy and counseling skills aligns with educational research showing that experiential learning (learning by doing) is often more effective than classroom instruction alone.

Several important limitations should be considered when interpreting these results. The sample was very small (only 17 people) and consisted only of healthy young women aged 18-30, so the findings may not apply to men, older adults, or people with health conditions or eating disorders. All participants were nutrition students, meaning they had more knowledge about nutrition than the general population and may have had different motivations or perspectives. The study was conducted in Sweden, so cultural attitudes toward food and dieting may have influenced the results. Additionally, students knew they were part of a research study, which may have affected their behavior and how they reported their experiences. Finally, the interviews were conducted 1-35 days after the intervention, so some students’ memories of their experiences may have faded or changed over time.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, nutrition education programs may benefit from including practical diet experiences for students (moderate confidence). Healthcare providers who have personally experienced dietary restrictions may provide more empathetic and effective counseling to patients (moderate confidence). However, these recommendations should be considered alongside other factors, and more research with larger and more diverse groups is needed before making major changes to nutrition education programs.

This research is most relevant to nutrition educators, dietitians, and healthcare providers who counsel patients about diet changes. It’s also interesting for people studying nutrition or considering a career in dietetics. If you’re a patient working with a dietitian, this research suggests that your counselor may have valuable insights from personal experience. However, this study doesn’t directly apply to the general public making personal dietary choices. People with eating disorders or a history of disordered eating should be cautious about the implications, as strict diets can be harmful for them.

The benefits of having dietitians with firsthand diet experience would likely be seen over time as they counsel patients. Students who participated in this study may show improved counseling skills in their future practice, but this would need to be measured in follow-up research. For patients receiving counseling from experienced dietitians, improved understanding and empathy might lead to better adherence to dietary recommendations, but realistic timelines would depend on individual circumstances and the specific dietary changes being made.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily adherence to your prescribed diet using a simple yes/no or percentage scale (e.g., “I followed my diet plan today: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%”). Also note any challenges you faced (loss of control, social situations, unexpected cravings) to identify patterns and discuss with your dietitian.
  • Use the app to log not just what you eat, but how you feel while following your diet plan. Note emotional responses, social challenges, and physical effects. Share these insights with your dietitian or healthcare provider to improve your counseling and support. If you’re a nutrition student, use the app to document your own diet experiences to build empathy for future patients.
  • Over 4-8 weeks, track your adherence patterns and emotional responses to dietary changes. Identify your biggest challenges (social situations, food cravings, loss of control) and work with your dietitian to develop specific strategies to address them. Review your tracking data monthly to see if your adherence improves as you develop coping strategies and adjust to the diet.

This research describes the experiences of healthy young women following strict diets as part of an educational study. The findings should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are considering making significant dietary changes, have a history of eating disorders, or have any health conditions, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider or registered dietitian before starting any new diet. This study was small and conducted in a specific population (Swedish nutrition students), so results may not apply to everyone. Always seek personalized medical advice from a healthcare professional rather than relying solely on research findings.