People go on dieting plans to look thinner, feel more attractive or to reduce health risks. Dieting may be more challenging than it appears. Many diets succeed at first to help you lose weight, but fail in the long run to help you keep it off. Other diets fail by increasing your health risks with an unbalanced diet, nutrient deficiencies and high cost.
Pro: Weight Loss
For many people, dieting plans may help to lose weight. However, they require that you also increase your physical activity so you expend more calories than you consume. Dieting plans may be difficult to follow for a long period and could increase your risk for nutritional deficiencies, unless you eat a balanced diet or take dietary supplements. Consult your doctor or nutritionist about the benefits and risks of your dieting plan.
Pro: Improved Endothelial Function
Dieting can improve endothelial function. The endothelium is the lining of cells on the interior of your arteries. People who are overweight or obese often have impaired endothelial function, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Research by the Department of Vascular Disease at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and published in "Heart and Vessels" in 2010, reported that diet-induced weight loss improves endothelial function in obese subjects beginning in the first week of dieting.
Cons: Weight Regain
Dieting may help you lose weight in the short term, yet often results in weight regain in the long-term. Research by scientists at Yale University School of Medicine and published in "Obesity Surgery" in 2009 reported that extremely obese patients commonly pursue dieting plans, yet end up with greater weight gain after the diet. The research found binge eating is not associated with the weight regain. The research also discovered that frequent dieters who weigh less than infrequent dieters have higher rates of body dissatisfaction.
Con: Cost
Dieting plans can be expensive and may not be cost-effective when you evaluate the results and the dollars you need to spend. These plans, such as the Atkins low carbohydrate weight loss plan, often suggest you purchase prepackaged foods or meals that have been designed to be low in calories, fat and other nutrients to help you lose weight. Research by scientists at the Department of Medicine, Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania and published in "Obesity Research" in 2005 compared the cost-effectiveness of a low carbohydrate diet to a standard low-calorie diet and discovered that a low-carbohydrate diet is more expensive, yet not more cost-effective for weight loss than the standard diet.
References
- HelpGuide.org: Healthy Weight Loss and Dieting
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Weight Loss and Nutrition Myths
- PubMed: Effect of Diet-Induced Weight Loss on Endothelial Dysfunction: Early Improvement after the First Week of Dieting
- PubMed: Chronic Dieting among Extremely Obese Bariatric Surgery Candidates
- PubMed: Cost-Effectiveness of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet and a Standard Diet in Severe Obesity
Member Comments