International No Diet Day – yes there is such a day – is observed on May 6 every year.
If you are a serial dieter trying out a new miracle weight-loss potion or plan every month this is the day to reconsider your habit and what it does to your health.
Dr Tamlin Roberts, a practitioner from Johannesburg, says the problem with crash diets it that they put your lifestyle on hold temporarily. They don’t bring about the lasting changes that are necessary to control your weight at healthy levels.
“You don’t learn how to deal with challenges such as eating out in social settings, eating while travelling or stress eating. Instead you merely postpone dealing with these situations.”
She adds you may indeed lose weight, but not for long.
“When the diet is over you are likely to revert to your real lifestyle and easily regain the weight. Even worse: the weight regained may make your body fatter, even if you go back to your old weight before dieting. This is because crash diets promote water and lean tissue muscle loss. When you inevitably gain the weight back you don’t gain back the muscle you lost, you gain fat.”
Apart from the returning bulge, some diets can be dangerous. One high protein diet is reported to lead to the increased risk of heart disease, colon cancer, bad breath (halitosis) and constipation. Side effects could also include a lack of nutrients (vitamins and minerals), headaches and poor sleep.
But giving up dieting could be tough.
Pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in diet products, which are marketed widely through television commercials and various websites, all promising effortless weight loss within no time.
Women are the main consumers of diet products, often citing “no results” and ending up feeling worse about themselves than before.
This is why, according to research, diets are the leading cause of more eating disorders, reduced self-esteem and increased food or weight obsessions.
If you are concerned about your weight and health and want to make some lasting changes, consider the following:
start exercising;
start eating regular small, healthy meals and snacks which include plenty of fruit and vegetables; and
cut down on food and snacks with high fat and sugar content.