The radical and unsustainable weight loss of contestants in hit Australian television show The Biggest Loser has prompted Health Minister Bronwyn Pike to sound a public alarm about the dangers of fad diets.

Ms Pike was taking part in the first of series of statewide Fad Diets won't work—Community Conversations teen forums to engage young Victorians on how to attack the issues of fad dieting and obesity.

'It is time to tackle the issues of fad-dieting and obesity at the grassroots level where much of the advertising and media attention is aimed, at young people.

'With the world of fad diets bombarding teenage minds and offering miracle quick-fix cures for weight problems, we are turning to teens to ask them directly what would help them best.

'This series of community conversations with young people is aimed at revealing what the real barriers are to teenagers opting for long-term healthy lifestyles and eating habits, rather than dangerous fad diets and quick fixes.

'The reality is that losing weight fast has very little to do with good health and recent research shows that young dieters end up putting on more weight than those who don't diet.'

Ms Pike said a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed dieting teens increased their weight more than non-dieters over three years with girls who dieted increasing their average weight by nearly a kilo more per year than non-dieters.

'Also concerning is that the dieting teens were more likely to binge eat than non-dieters.

'Girls who frequently dieted were 12 times more likely to binge eat than non-dieters,' Ms Pike said 

The study found similar patterns among boys.

Boys who dieted gained more weight than boys who did not and boys who dieted frequently were eight times more likely to binge eat than non-dieters.

A recently-completed Victorian-based study funded by the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders has shown that dieting Australian adolescents also fared badly with around 66 per cent of 15-year-old girls on diets at any one time.

'This study showed around one in 10 young women experience symptoms of eating disorder during adolescence with dieting the most important risk factor for eating disorders,' Ms Pike said.

'Television shows such as The Biggest Loser portray an unrealistic and unhealthy approach to losing weight and leading a healthy lifestyle and it's important that people don't fall for the dangerous traps of fad diets.

Ms Pike said the overall aim of the Fad Diets won't work—Community Conversations forums was to work with young people around the state to identify fad diet causes while finding effective ways to encourage long-term healthy lifestyle habits.

'It is important that people seek proper long-term medical, physical and nutritional advice so they can adjust to a long-term healthy lifestyle and not just fall for dangerous quick-fixes.

'We are looking for long-term healthy approaches that work in real life.

'Fad dieting and obesity are serious issues on the agenda of the Government and the Centre for Excellence in Eating Disorders will prepare a report on the outcomes of these forums, making recommendations to government direct from teenagers.'

Ms Pike said the findings of the report would also be used to help schools, health and youth agencies better plan how to tackle the problems of fad dieting and obesity.

Fad Diets won't work—community conversations venues include Barwon, Upper Hume, Lower Hume, the Wimmera and the Central Highlands regions as well as Melbourne.