Nutritionist Sandy Szwarc has been telling this story for some time. Studies show that dieting doesn’t work. In fact, women that diet experience worse health outcomes that women that don’t diet. Scientists conducted a randomized clinical trial of two groups of women:
For six months, half of the women participated in a traditional diet and weight loss program, complete with social support; standard nutritional guidance to moderately restrict calories, on how to count calories and fat, read food labels and shop, maintain food diaries, and monitor their weight; and were given information of the benefits of exercise and behavioral strategies for successful dieting. The other women were instructed to let go of restrictive eating habits and not weigh themselves, were counseled to eat according to their natural appetites, given standard nutritional information about healthful foods, and participated in a support group designed to help them become more accepting of their larger bodies, develop a positive self image, and enjoy their bodies.
Guess what. “While the dieting group that had initially lost weight, it had regained almost all of it two years later, while the nondieters’ weights had remained stable.” And the non-dieters showed healthier blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels.
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