It’s Science: Diets Don’t Work – Consumerist

It’s Science: Diets Don’t Work – Consumerist:

Researchers analysed 31 long-term studies that followed participants for two to five years.

“We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all. Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear of losing weight and gaining it all back.”

[UCLA associate professor of psychology Traci Mann] added: “My mother has been on diets and says what we are saying is obvious.”

So what does work? Exercise. But you already knew that, didn’t you? —MEGHANN MARCO

Exactly. Especially the part where yo-yo-ing your weight is a lot worse than doing nothing at all. The answer is not diet, it’s a new lifestyle where things change permanently, and seeing what weight comes off as part of the lifestyle change. (also note that, and I can’t find the reference offhand, there are huge benefits to taking off and keeping off the first 10% or so, much as if you reduce the pressure of a hose close to bursting….)

which is why I’ve been working to get the weight bench up and running more than cutting calories (more on that real soon now)

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