Diet Industry: FAIL
In modern times, it seems that our quest for the elusive perfect body is endless and is considered “the norm” in our society. To make the situation worse, consider that what is perceived as “perfect” can be as low as 20% less than what our ideal weight may be.
This has created a society in which people, mostly women, don’t think that they are “perfect enough”. Consider the following statistics:
- 1 in every 4 seven year olds think that they are larger than they really are
- 7 in every 10 twelve year old girls who think that they are fat are, in reality, underweight
- the top wish of girls aged 11 to 17 is to be thinner
- a growing number of men are unhappy with their weight
Where do these mindsets come from? The media? The diet industry? Our social habitat? The dieting habits of our parents?
Today alone, 97% of women will say or think something cruel about their own bodies. And who will they turn to for help?
The diet industry. Yes, the very same industry that preys on our deepest insecurities; our most secret dreams.
Approximately half of the female population is dieting right now. A large percentage of the other half are thinking about starting a diet.
80% of 10 year old girls have dieted to lose weight. (I was one of them).
More than 2 in 10 women have used dangerous diet pills or laxatives to lose weight. (Again, I was one of them).
98% of people who lose weight on a strict, low calorie diet will put it ALL back on, and often, gain more weight. (Yet again, I was one of them).
The diet industry is huge, estimated at over 100 billion dollars per year if bariatric surgeries and diet foods are factored in. So why is the success rate so low at only 5 to 15%?? (The Diet Business: Banking on Failure – BBC World News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2725943.stm)
Why is it that the harder we “diet”, the fatter we get?
Why is it that the more extreme the diet (and the faster the weight loss), the more surely the weight will be gained back?
WHY DO WE KEEP FALLING FOR THIS?
Obesity and failing health are increasing all over the world. The harder we try, the more we exercise and suffer with low calorie, unsatisfying diets, the more injections and pills we take, the fatter and sicker we are getting. It would appear that the diet industry (along with the food, drug and fitness industries) are making us sicker and fatter.
All the while, we want so badly to have that perfect body (however we perceive it to be), that at times we actually defend the systems that are keeping us fat and sick. I have actually had people say to me things such as:
“The only diet that works for me is (fill in the diet plan). I’ve been on it 7 or 8 times now.”
WHAT??? Seven or eight times?? This does not sound at all as though it is ‘working’ to me.
I have had vegans complain to me about vicious body pain and a digestive system in complete turmoil. However, some of them would almost rather be put to death than eat a steak.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Einstein
To paraphrase a popular sportswear company, " If what you are doing isn't working, JUST QUIT IT."
How About Bariatric Surgery?
I frequently listen to Internet radio from Canada and the USA. On stations in both countries, I am hearing increasing ads promoting bariatric surgery as an option for weight loss. One company is using a slogan that directs people to "take control of their lives'.
It would seem to me that having your digestive system permanently destroyed is hardly ‘taking control’. Rather, it would seem that it is relinquishing any and all control.
Bariatric surgery seems to be the next wave of the weight loss industry, and its proponents seem determined to convince us that:
“We are powerless over food.”
“It’s not our fault that we are overweight or obese.”
“You can’t lose the weight by yourself”. And....
“Diets don’t work.” – Well, OK…. I’ll give them that one. By and large, diets don’t work, but that has become such a cliché that it is almost meaningless. A properly structured, individualized, nutrient rich, calorie adequate meal plan with plenty of variety and a few lifestyle changes coupled with the right amounts of support and honesty DOES work in the majority of cases.
Bariatric surgery should be a last resort. It is NOT a ‘cure’ for obesity, and patients have to make substantial lifestyle changes to be successful.
Certainly, in a life or death situation, I would not try to talk someone out of surgery but would still encourage them to really research, research, RESEARCH!!
However, in a non-life threatening situation, I would have to issue the reminder that weight loss surgery doesn’t turn obese people into naturally thin people. It turns them into starving obese people with damaged digestive systems that no longer allow them to eat a healthy and nutritionally sound diet that contains a large variety of foods.
In closing, here is a remark made by a weight loss doctor in reference to his bariatric surgery candidates in a blog post.
“… most have tried every commercial diet or pill they could lay their hands on - they are all ‘experts’ on weight loss.”
This speaks volumes about how the diet industries have failed us, no?
This has created a society in which people, mostly women, don’t think that they are “perfect enough”. Consider the following statistics:
- 1 in every 4 seven year olds think that they are larger than they really are
- 7 in every 10 twelve year old girls who think that they are fat are, in reality, underweight
- the top wish of girls aged 11 to 17 is to be thinner
- a growing number of men are unhappy with their weight
Where do these mindsets come from? The media? The diet industry? Our social habitat? The dieting habits of our parents?
Today alone, 97% of women will say or think something cruel about their own bodies. And who will they turn to for help?
The diet industry. Yes, the very same industry that preys on our deepest insecurities; our most secret dreams.
Approximately half of the female population is dieting right now. A large percentage of the other half are thinking about starting a diet.
80% of 10 year old girls have dieted to lose weight. (I was one of them).
More than 2 in 10 women have used dangerous diet pills or laxatives to lose weight. (Again, I was one of them).
98% of people who lose weight on a strict, low calorie diet will put it ALL back on, and often, gain more weight. (Yet again, I was one of them).
The diet industry is huge, estimated at over 100 billion dollars per year if bariatric surgeries and diet foods are factored in. So why is the success rate so low at only 5 to 15%?? (The Diet Business: Banking on Failure – BBC World News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2725943.stm)
Why is it that the harder we “diet”, the fatter we get?
Why is it that the more extreme the diet (and the faster the weight loss), the more surely the weight will be gained back?
WHY DO WE KEEP FALLING FOR THIS?
Obesity and failing health are increasing all over the world. The harder we try, the more we exercise and suffer with low calorie, unsatisfying diets, the more injections and pills we take, the fatter and sicker we are getting. It would appear that the diet industry (along with the food, drug and fitness industries) are making us sicker and fatter.
All the while, we want so badly to have that perfect body (however we perceive it to be), that at times we actually defend the systems that are keeping us fat and sick. I have actually had people say to me things such as:
“The only diet that works for me is (fill in the diet plan). I’ve been on it 7 or 8 times now.”
WHAT??? Seven or eight times?? This does not sound at all as though it is ‘working’ to me.
I have had vegans complain to me about vicious body pain and a digestive system in complete turmoil. However, some of them would almost rather be put to death than eat a steak.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Einstein
To paraphrase a popular sportswear company, " If what you are doing isn't working, JUST QUIT IT."
How About Bariatric Surgery?
I frequently listen to Internet radio from Canada and the USA. On stations in both countries, I am hearing increasing ads promoting bariatric surgery as an option for weight loss. One company is using a slogan that directs people to "take control of their lives'.
It would seem to me that having your digestive system permanently destroyed is hardly ‘taking control’. Rather, it would seem that it is relinquishing any and all control.
Bariatric surgery seems to be the next wave of the weight loss industry, and its proponents seem determined to convince us that:
“We are powerless over food.”
“It’s not our fault that we are overweight or obese.”
“You can’t lose the weight by yourself”. And....
“Diets don’t work.” – Well, OK…. I’ll give them that one. By and large, diets don’t work, but that has become such a cliché that it is almost meaningless. A properly structured, individualized, nutrient rich, calorie adequate meal plan with plenty of variety and a few lifestyle changes coupled with the right amounts of support and honesty DOES work in the majority of cases.
Bariatric surgery should be a last resort. It is NOT a ‘cure’ for obesity, and patients have to make substantial lifestyle changes to be successful.
Certainly, in a life or death situation, I would not try to talk someone out of surgery but would still encourage them to really research, research, RESEARCH!!
However, in a non-life threatening situation, I would have to issue the reminder that weight loss surgery doesn’t turn obese people into naturally thin people. It turns them into starving obese people with damaged digestive systems that no longer allow them to eat a healthy and nutritionally sound diet that contains a large variety of foods.
In closing, here is a remark made by a weight loss doctor in reference to his bariatric surgery candidates in a blog post.
“… most have tried every commercial diet or pill they could lay their hands on - they are all ‘experts’ on weight loss.”
This speaks volumes about how the diet industries have failed us, no?