In decades past, Americans looking to lose weight in the new year had a few simple options: join a gym, sign up for a 5k, start a diet. But we’re now in the era of Instagram, where celebrities can shamelessly hawk unproven health and fitness fads to unsuspecting consumers in the name of #sponcon.
To be sure, not everything you see on Instagram is bad for you. But scientists and researchers warn that some of 2018’s most Insta-famous and celebrity-backed wellness trends won’t do much to help you slim down—and that some are downright dangerous.
No one should ever feel obligated to lose weight, at any time of the year. But if you do want to drop a few pounds for 2019, it’s worth avoiding these five fads.