Why Diets Fail + A Better Approach
As a new year begins, we often set ambitious goals and strive for personal growth. However, it's common for resolutions to lose momentum as time goes on. Fitness and weight loss are often top priorities on our list, especially with the constant marketing hype around new diets at the start of the year. The appealing before and after photos can be enticing, but after a month or so, the sustainability of a new diet plan often dwindles.
It's common to feel like you've let yourself down when you can't stick to your diet, but this is not your fault! The real culprit is usually the diet itself, which may not be tailored to your specific nutritional requirements.
While most weight-loss diets will initially be successful at the start, these results often plateau after a few weeks/months due to the body beginning to adapt to the decreased energy intake and/or straying off the “plan” due to weaning motivation. And often times, we may try program after program and fall into the same cycle continuously, which can feel very frustrating. According to this study, most diets are modestly successful for awhile, but after approximately a year, most benefits of the diet are gone!
“You can't pick the right diet if none of them work." This truly sums up the dieting industry as a whole and is why I focus on an alternative approach in my practice. Instead of following a strict, specific plan, I individualize realistic goals and small, evidence-based behavior changes with each and every one of my clients.
In my experience as a Registered Dietitian, I have found that focusing on the person as a whole is most effective when it comes to reaching your goals. This includes looking at things such as daily schedule/routine, timing of eating, exposure to certain elements/toxins, as well as the overall intake of food. Instead of simply “eating less, moving more," long term health is often more about the quality of food eaten, eating the right foods/nutrients for your body, and moving in a way that supports your individual biology.
If you are tired of the diet trap, I would love to help you! Let's focus on sustainability in 2024. Shoot me an e-mail to set up your next appointment. Have a wonderful week!
References:
1. Shmerling, Robert H. “When Dieting Doesn’t Work.” Harvard Health Blog, 25 May 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-dieting-doesnt-work-2020052519889.
2. Ge, Long, et al. “Comparison of Dietary Macronutrient Patterns of 14 Popular Named Dietary Programmes for Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Reduction in Adults: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomised Trials.” The BMJ, vol. 369, 1 Apr. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190064/?report=printable#ref15, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m696.