Is Focusing on Weight Loss Harmless?
Many people believe that as long as you lose weight, the method doesn't matter and that the only outcome is a healthier you. However, this belief overlooks many risks and potential negative impacts associated with dieting and weight control efforts.
🚫 Why this myth is unhelpful:
First off, I am not here to tell you what you should do with your body—it's your body and your choice. But I do believe in helping you to understand the risks of dieting are many and they are rarely mentioned, so here goes.
It is well documented in scientific literature that up to 95% of people who lose weight through dieting will put that weight back on; some estimates suggest roughly a third will gain even more.
This puts many at risk of ‘yo-yo dieting,’ or ‘weight cycling.’
Why is weight cycling a problem? 🌪️ Weight cycling where your body reduces when you restrict food, then weight regain happens when you go back to previous habits. Its common with people who hop from one diet to the next.
But also it is a known risk factor contributing to inflammation and stress to the body.
Imagine this: What if many chronic diseases blamed on ‘fatness’ are caused by the inherent dieting and weight cycling people in larger bodies are often compelled to do?
But wait, there’s more. Beyond physical risks, there's the mental, emotional, and social toll. Yo-yo dieting, weight cycling, and the risk of developing an eating disorder (20-25% of dieters may develop disordered eating) can devastate body image, self-perception, and self-esteem.
The risks of yet another dieting attempt really start to add up….
🌟 What you could do instead:
Focus on your habits, not numbers: Prioritising healthy habits like balanced eating, regular movement that feels good, sleep and stress management.
Listen to your body: Start the process of healing your relationship with food and you can tune into hunger and fullness cues rather than external diet rules.
Seek support: Whether it’s a friend, a support group, or a professional, find a community that encourages health at every size.
Struggling with dieting and binge eating…
Discuss your concerns with me, a trained non-diet registered dietitian:
Sick of the dieting merry-go-round? Let's a way thats sustainable for YOU. Book a free 15-minute call to explore how the non-diet approach can support you on your journey to a healthier relationship with food. Or, feel free to shoot me a DM on WhatsApp, whatever feels comfortable for you!
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Learn more about my 1:1 consultations and how they can support you to break free from dieting and binge eating. Click here to explore my services.
Don't let dieting and binge eating control your life any longer. Contact me here to find out how I can support you.
