"Like many wellness trends these days, Whole30 is marketed as a sustainable, positive lifestyle change; however, it's really a diet in disguise," Jackie said. It asks participants to restrict certain foods, and it labels some foods as "approved" and others as "off-limits." For those people who are struggling, whether with body image, their relationship with food, or with other disordered eating behaviours, such a restrictive diet could make those issues worse.
Registered dietitian Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, for the food tracking app Lose It! said, "I would recommend Whole30 to clients who are either experiencing symptoms that may be caused by certain food groups or are looking for a way to cut back on sugar and highly-processed foods." But not everyone has celiac disease or a dairy intolerance, so noted that it may not make sense for certain people to eliminate these foods altogether.