Diet Pros and Cons

There's worthy motivation behind going on a diet. More often than not, following a healthy eating plan yields weight-loss results and helps to make participants healthier. Balanced diets can also help improve people's focus and energy levels. However, following a diet is almost never easy, and some diets can be expensive. Learn more about the notable pros and cons before committing to just one strict way of eating.

Advantages

Perhaps the biggest advantage of going on a diet is the positive health effects. According to a 2007 Mayo Clinic study of 5,000 people who had successfully lost weight and kept it off, 99 percent of participants had reduced their overall calorie intake, and the majority had also reduced their intake of fat. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases also states that eating a low-calorie, healthy and nutritious diet can reduce the risk of conditions including diabetes, asthma, heart disease and cancer.

Disadvantages

For many people, one of the most significant disadvantages of a diet is its restrictive nature. Nearly all healthy diets call for a decrease in consumption of saturated fat, overall calories, sugar and cholesterol, which means that desserts and high-calorie snacks can be only occasional treats. Another challenge of most diets is reducing calorie intake and changing eating habits, particularly if food and eating serve as a comfort to dieters.

Types

Not all diets have the same pros and cons. Some eating plans do allow for more frequent snacks and treats, although they may not have as many health advantages as do more restrictive plans. A diet that follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture food pyramid is one of the most common eating plans. Though it features many whole, nutritious foods that are correlated with good health, it also restricts tastier items that are rich in saturated fat, oil, sugar and calories.

Guidelines

Talk over the specific pluses and minuses of diet plans with a physician, nutritionist or dietitian to find out which plans might be best for you. Almost every diet involves some degree of temptation and some drawbacks, so one of the biggest obstacles lies in finding a plan for which the good parts outweigh the bad.

Considerations

The Mayo Clinic notes that an effective diet consists of a series of permanent lifestyle changes that can be very difficult to meet. Without substantial motivation, the cons of any diet may outweigh the pros, and frustration can win out over determination. Even with effective diets, follow-through is necessary to see results and improvements, so make sure you're ready and committed before starting a plan.