Holly Hagan is the latest in a string of reality stars to use her weight loss to earn her a few quid, but she’s getting a lot of criticism for it.

The Geordie Shore star has just released her second diet book, Lose 5 Pounds In One Week, a short-term diet manual which aims to help women lose weight quickly.

While a quick flick through Instagram reveals women are already following along with the plan, the book has come under huge fire for suggesting women eat just 800 calories a day or less to drop the pounds.

Even though it’s a short term regime, 800 is still drastically lower than the 2,000 calories women are recommended to consume every day to stay healthy.

One picture in particular, reposted to the book's official Instagram page, shows a reader finishing off her day on 758 calories with an ice lolly.

 

#Repost @sw_mrsgc with @repostapp ・・・ 45 cals and I'm finished on 758 for the day #lose5pounds #hollysbodybible @lose5pounds #swuk #sw #slimmingworld

A photo posted by @lose5pounds on Sep 16, 2015 at 8:40am PDT

"Lose 5lbs this week and put on 7lbs next week when i finally eat again … Great, where do I sign up?" one commenter wrote. "Can't believe this is even legal, selling eating disorders to the unfortunate teens who look up to this clown. Horrible."

Holly says the plan in the book is one she used herself to lose six pounds in a week, and that it’s not dangerous if it’s only carried out for the time advised.

 

Anyone who's been following my @lose5pounds journey on snapchat will know that I completed my 7day challenge on Wednesday with a loss of 6lb!!I am absolutely over the moon I'm now back to the weight I was before filming! We have consulted doctors nutritionists and fitness experts to come up with this plan that is SAFE and that actually works! this should be done for 1 week ONLY then continue with a longer term plan such as the original #bodybible no it's not a piece of cake and yes you will have to be determined but it's ONE WEEK! I cannot WAIT to see everyone's progress photos available to pre order at hollysbodybible.com iBooks and google play who's ready for the challenge?!

A photo posted by Holly Hagan (@hollygshore) on Sep 3, 2015 at 11:16am PDT

She took to Twitter just now to defend herself, saying 800 calories a day was not an unsafe amount to consume.

To literally make things up. 5:2 diet is 500 calories some days and the NHS website says you can maintain 800 calories a day for 12 weeks!!!

— MissHollyHagan (@HollyGShore) September 24, 2015

If you want a proper story report on crime and injustice in the world, not the fact I'm helping people achieve a healthy weight Rant Over!

— MissHollyHagan (@HollyGShore) September 24, 2015

"5:2 diet is 500 calories some days and the NHS website says you can maintain 800 calories a day for 12 weeks," she wrote.

"If you want a proper story report on crime and injustice in the world, not the fact I'm helping people achieve a healthy weight Rant Over!" 

The book was written with the help of personal trainer Ashley Lucas, but a rep for Holly says it offers "general information about diet and nutrition… not advice."

The rep also stressed the fact that Lose 5 Pounds In One Week is based on a short-term diet plan.

"The plan is designed to be followed for seven days, without starvation, supplements, or cutting out entire food groups.

"It is designed so be about small sacrifices for a week, combined with specific techniques."