Many experts disagree about the benefits of dieting. Some feel dieting is actually counter-productive and, in fact, results in weight gain. There is increasing evidence that counting calories and numbers on the scale or attempting to reach an ideal body weight is an approach certain to fail.

The diet industry, with reported expenditures estimated at $30-50 billion annually, is ultimately not very effective. The obese in the U.S. now comprise one third of the adult population--up from one--quarter 15 years ago. In fact, according to David Garner, Ph.D., an eating disorders specialist at the Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, "The best way to gain weight is to lose weight." Debra Waterhouse, M.Ph.R.D., author of Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell, points out that when in deprivation or famine mode the body is programmed to become much more efficient at fat storage. Fat cells enlarge and metabolism slows down, conserving fat and using up muscle. Thus, once off a restrictive diet, the individual will gain back more weight than before with a large fat/muscle ratio. Along with excessive dieting comes the increasing prevalence of eating disorders, which often arise from an obsession with thinness and the destructive mind-set of constant deprivation. Eating disorders can lead to a number of physiological and emotional problems that are difficult to treat.

So what do people struggling with weight issues do? Dr. John Foreyt, Ph.D., director of the Nutrition Research Clinic at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, says the difference between the pro-dieters and the anti-dieters is a "cognitive" one, meaning it's all in how a person looks at it. The diet (deprivation) mentality is a destructive one that ultimately will fail because it does not empower the individual to make a healthy choice. "It is much more productive to eat in a positive and orderly way, exercise in a pleasurable and sustainable fashion, and let weight do what it will in response to those health habits." According to Ellen Satter, M.S.R.D., you may not be genetically programmed to be "skinny." If you eat and exercise prudently, the weight you end up with is your optimal weight in terms of physical and mental health. Eating should be a pleasurable experience. Mindful eating, enjoying healthy foods in reasonable amounts, and moderate exercise are habits that can be sustained over a lifetime. Accepting yourself with your own genetic make-up, even if you don't have a magazine model look, will result in a healthier, happier individual.

If you would like help with eating concerns, contact the Health Center, ext. 3394. Lydia Bolduc-Marden, N.P.

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