“Know Dieting” Presentation

Goals of this presentation Explain specific behaviors and attitudes that constitute dieting Illustrate link between dieting and eating disorders Clarify impacts of dieting on one’s body and self-esteem

What is dieting? Skipping meals Eliminating fat or specific foods Counting calories Excessive exercise Dieting: Any attempts in the name of weight loss to deprive your body of the essential, well-balanced nutrients that it needs to function at its fullest capacity Dieting mindset: Dissatisfaction with your natural body shape or size leading to a decision that you need to actively change your physical body

Four commonly cited reasons So Why Diet? Four commonly cited reasons 1. to conform to cultural standards of what is considered attractive 2. to be healthier 3. to be more popular 4. to feel better about yourself

Questions to consider Does the number on the scale say anything about the kind of person you are on the inside? Can you be “heavier” AND healthy at the same time, i.e. fit and “fat?” Should you be judged by your appearance or your actions?

Everybody’s Doing It … Dieting has become a national pastime in the U.S., especially for women Americans spend over $40 billion dollars a year on dieting and diet-related products College campuses are especially at-risk for diet epidemics One study found that 91% of women on a college campus had at one time attempted to control their weight through dieting Over 1/2 of teenage girls and nearly 1/3 of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives. So, if everybody’s doing it… what’s the big deal, right?

The Big Deal about dieting is … Genetics, not dietetics, determine body size and shape Medical research shows that it is more dangerous to be 30% underweight than 30% overweight “Yo-Yo” dieting can increase the risk of heart disease by as much as 50-60% Dieting can lead to calcium deficiency, which means brittle and breakable bones Dieting can lead to loss of muscular strength and endurance, decreased oxygen utilization, loss of coordination, and electrolyte imbalance

Dieting also impacts your mind A calorie is simply a measure of the amount of energy released by your food SO when you restrict your calories, you restrict your energy AND when you restrict your energy, you restrict your brainpower Dieting… can cause you to have slower reaction times and a decreased ability to concentrate is associated with depression, feelings of failure, low self-esteem, and increased stress can make you irritable, grumpy, tired, apathetic can make you think about food all the time can make you crave food in your dreams

Did you know Diets Don’t Work ? 95% of dieters will regain their lost weight in one to five years Consistent dieting can lower your resting metabolic rate SO over time your body will burn calories more slowly After dieting, if you re-introduce “forbidden” foods, you will most likely regain all the weight you lost In the long run your body’s metabolism will lead you back to your set-point or natural weight, which is influenced by your genetics