Dear Alice,
I've been trying to diet for over two years. My goal is to lose
about 25 pounds, but the most I've been able to get is 15, and I
can hardly keep it off. I concentrate on eating very little and
since exercise is so hard to keep up, I pretty much starve myself
to death. I manage to maintain the weight for a month, and then I
lose control again. I've been thinking about the various diet
products in the market, such as diet teas, herbs, meal-
substitution shakes, and other medical products. I'd like to know
what kind of side-effects they have, and how effective they are.
(Some boast a seven-day plan, but that seems hardly believable.)
Also, I'd like to know how well-researched the information is on
these products, i.e., are they long-term enough to cover all the
side-effects? As for aspartame, is it really harmless, or is it
just not researched yet?
--Trying to Diet
Dear Trying to Diet,
Let's start with aspartame. Although the short-term research
(sponsored mostly by the manufacturer of the product) has
indicated aspartame is not harmful, there is no way to really know
if it is harmless over a long term of usage, as it has not been on
the market for that long. Adequate long-term research to get a
definitive answer does not, and, probably, will never exist.
(Unless, of course, like saccharin, it is found to be a
carcinogen...)
When it comes to diet products, anything that seems too good to
believe, is! There are no miracles or secrets to thinness out
there. If one of these diet products truly worked, it would not
stay a secret for very long (and there would be no need for all
the others, would there?). Alice once heard a quote that a
capitalistic society, such as the U.S., is the perfect place for
the diet industry, because it relies on advertising, not
effectiveness. In other words, the diet industry makes money by
marketing products that are ineffective, so people will keep
coming back for more.
There are, however, many tips that Alice can give you about good
eating and nutritional habits to improve your health. It is
possible that you are at a good weight for your body, and should
not be trying to lose weight at all, but simply trying to change
your habits to more well-rounded, healthful ones. Developing
consistent, healthy eating habits that you will be able to
maintain for the rest of your life will also help you get to, and
keep, an adequate weight for the long run. Although not as
glamorous as the diet industry's promises, changing your eating
behaviors actually works.
Healthy eating includes listening to your body's internal signals
(i.e., eating when you are hungry), but also knowing that it is
okay to sometimes eat for other reasons (i.e., the fresh cookies
taste so good, or just because it will get you through the next
exam). Try to stay away from extremes (starving and out-of-control
bingeing), and move towards the middle of the continuum. You might
want to try a group next semester to help you with your eating
behaviors, and improve your self-esteem and body image, called
Food and Fitness for Thought. You can call x4-5453 to get more
information and register (every semester). If you would like to speak with
a nutritionist privately about your food and exercise questions,
you can make an appointment by calling Health Services at x4-2284. All
services are free and confidential.
- Alice
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Trying to diet
