The new Diet Coke Diet? Young women abusing energy drinks in a bid to lose weight amid surge in eating disorders, NHS mental health chief warns READ MORE: Health experts reveal the symptom you should NEVER ignore By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 03:26 EDT, 23 July 2024 | Updated: 03:26 EDT, 23 July 2024 e-mail View comments Women are consuming risky amounts of energy drinks instead of food in a bid to lose weight , amid a rise in developing eating disorders, the NHS 's mental health tsar has warned. The drinks are often marketed as 'healthy' and even sold in gyms — but are very low in calories and may also suppress appetite if they contain a high caffeine content, which eating disorder specialists claim makes them open to 'abuse'. Claire Murdoch, NHS England's national director for mental health, this week said she was 'concerned' about the trend — which has echoes of the trend in the 1990s for consuming large amounts of caffeinated Diet Coke, rather than eating.
Ms Murdoch also hit out at drink manufacturers for promoting their products to young people as 'a quick way to lose weight'. Her comments came as the Government prepares to ban sales of the beverages to under 18s and speaking to MailOnline, mental health specialists echoed Ms Murdoch's worries. The energy drink trend has echoes of a similar trend in the 1990s for consuming large amounts of caffeinated Diet Coke, rather than eating Huel, which made its name as a meal replacement brand, says its energ.