Yep, you read that right...

Our new nationwide study has revealed that, despite the fact that a quarter (26%) of Brits are currently on a “diet” – HALF (50%) admit they are completely baffled when it comes to healthy eating terminology.

The data revealed that the average Brit said they’d like to lose an eye watering TWO STONE – yet 52% admit they don’t eat a healthy balanced diet.

And information overload might be to blame, with 43% of Brits claiming there are too many confusing terms out there connected to dieting, which leave them scratching their heads. 

In fact three in ten (29%) believe that carbohydrates and calories are the same thing – while 29% also had NO IDEA how to define what a carb is.

So it’s little surprise that 40% believe that high sugar fruits like oranges don’t contain any carbohydrate – while a quarter believe that bananas are completely carb free. In fact both types of fruit contain carbohydrates.

We took a closer look at the most baffling dietary terminology, with “macronutrients” (49%) emerging as the term deemed most confusing by the 1,500 dieters surveyed.

This was closely followed by...

“micronutrients” (47%) 
“ketogenic” (45%)  
“Glycemic Index” (43%) 

Brits were also left bewildered by terms such as...

“alkalising” (43%) 
“nutrient dense” (33%) 
“BMI” (30%) 

Yet were also very confused when it comes to fat, with over a third (34%) mistaking salmon for a low fat product, as well as avocadoes (28%) and eggs (28%). 

And although 78% knew that chicken is a protein rich food, 64% had no idea that lentils are a good source of protein, while 61% didn’t know chickpeas contain protein. 

So it’s no surprise that 47% admit they’re completely baffled by what it means to have “good” and “bad” carbohydrates and fat. 

Our survey also found that 58% of the Britons polled believe we need simple, clear and scientifically proven information when it comes to understanding healthy eating. 

43% blame misleading information in the media for the confusion many people face around dieting, while four in ten (43%) believe it’s important to remember that there’s no “one size fits all” approach to eating well. 

And almost a third (32%) believe understanding health is down to education, insisting that more should be taught at schools regarding the importance of a good diet. 

Navigating your way to healthier habits can be a minefield, so, it’s no wonder that so many Brits are confused by dieting terms – in fact, our research shows that up to three in ten wrongly think carbohydrates and calories are the same thing. 

While weird and wonderful diets may work for some people, getting into shape for good doesn’t need to be complicated – simply focus on calories in and out, and if you’re active, make sure you’re eating enough protein to support muscle recovery.  

Want to know more? Simply enter your email and download Grenade’s ‘Don’t Sweat It’ Nutrition and Fitness Guide here. It’s packed with our sports nutrition expertise with insight from some of the world’s leading nutritionists and PTs! Get it done!