Fitness influencers swear by the 'carnivore diet'—it's 'basically a terrible idea,' doctor says

Beef, butter, bacon and eggs — that's what some influencers swear by for the "carnivore diet." The diet beefs up on meat and minimizes or cuts out fruit and vegetables entirely.

On TikTok, people can be seen eating bowls of steak and 12 scrambled eggs all in one day — and some even snack on a stick of butter, biting off a piece the way one would a carrot.

The diet, similar in style to the Atkins and keto diets, goes by many names: carnivore diet, lion diet, high-fat diet and animal-based diet. Devout followers of the lifestyle boast that their skin is clearer than it's ever been, their gut is healthier and they're in the best shape of their lives.

"One of the best things that's happened since I quit the vegan diet and went carnivore is that my body odor just disappeared," TikToker @steakandbuttergal said in one of her videos. "I don't use any soap, I don't use any deodorant and I smell amazing."

Here's what experts have to say about the safety and sustainability of the carnivore diet.

Weight loss is one of the huge benefits that people who follow the carnivore diet claim they've experienced since adding more animal-based products to their diet. This is likely because the eating pattern also cuts down on carbs, says Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"It's possible that some people who have been eating a lot of refined starch and sugar may get better in the short run," with the carnivore diet, Willett says. "But this sounds like a diet that is going to be very unhealthy in the long run."

With a diet of just beef, butter, bacon and eggs, people won't get enough fiber, carotenoids and polyphenols which are rich in fruits and vegetables.

Getting fiber in your