Statistics show that 95% of all diets fail, but does that mean that diets do not work? Can a person lose weight without dieting? What exactly does it mean to diet?
Our bodies are incredibly complex, dynamic systems that require energy to function. We consume energy in the form of food and utilize energy even when resting and sleeping. There is no time that we do not utilize energy, though the highest energy utilization is during very active or prolonged physical activity. When we consume more energy than we utilize our body will store the excess energy either in the carbohydrate storage form of glycogen in the liver or as fat distributed throughout the body with the end result of increasing body weight . Simply, this is known as the energy balance principle. When we utilize more energy than we consume the energy stores are mobilized from the glycogen stored in the liver, from the fat stored throughout the body and from protein in throughout the body (particularly our muscles) to make up the difference and body weight will go down. (The composition of our diet has a large effect on the composition of mobilized energy during a period of negative energy balance - see the article “Diet Composition”)
Our lifestyle and personal habits essentially determine our energy balance state, whether we are consuming more or less energy than we are utilizing, or if it is balanced. The body, by genetic design, tries to keep us in balance through appetite and hunger control (the article “Fat Genes?” and “Hunger and Appetite” discuss what has gone wrong in those who may be missing these natural feelings due to genetic faults or errors). Over time, usually before we leave childhood, we can learn to disregard natural feelings of satiety and develop habits of overindulgence that result in a lifestyle that leads to long-term weight gain. Eating is also a very social activity. Many of our holidays and social gatherings involve eating and feasting which often leads to an overindulgence of energy, and when coupled with ignoring natural satiety feelings the next few days leads to a natural weight gain. Seasonal and occupational effects on lifestyle occur as well. During winter months, many people limit outdoor activities due to colder temperatures and shorter periods of daylight while many occupations also limit physical activity and energy utilization as well.
A diet may be considered a drastic, short-term change in lifestyle. Short-term because by definition it is unsustainable - stay on it too long and you may die depending on how drastically you have decreased energy intake (the article “Eating Disorders” describes a condition where people do end up starving themselves to death while maintaining a mental image of being overweight). A diet is drastic because of the effects it has on the body and mental psyche. A diet can be used to decrease body weight dramatically. There are generally two problems associated with unsuccessful dieting. First, the diet is so drastic that the change in lifestyle required is untenable to the participant for the time period necessary to lose the weight. The participant will cheat and consume more energy than the diet called for and fail or simply outright quit. The second problem is faced by people who achieve a meaningful weight loss and then return to the lifestyle that caused weight accumulation to begin with. The end result of which is returning to the pre-diet weight or even heavier (more information in the “Yo-Yo Dieting” and “Weight Loss Lifestyles” articles). It is very important that when making the leap from contemplating going on a diet to actually implementing one that proper planning has taken place to determine a reasonable weight change and time period for the weight change to occur. It is also important to make sure the diet plan design has support and feedback designed into it to increase dietary compliance and have ample support. There are several good commercial weight loss plans that include varying levels of support and motivation helps.
There is a website called the National Weight Control Registry that reports the weight loss efforts of individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and maintained that weight loss (http://www.nwcr.ws/). It is of interest to note that 45% of those listed on this web site lost weight on their own while 55% lost weight with the help of some diet program. Also, 98% report modifying food (energy) intake while 94% report increasing physical activity with walking being the most prevalent activity chosen.
While it may be true that 95% of all diets fail it is also true that dieting can work if the person can maintain motivation to stick to their diet and a lasting lifestyle change occurs (see “Changing Lifestyle” and “Staying Motivated” articles).
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