Image: iStock
When 2015 rolls around and our holiday indulgences are behind us, we’re all apt to want to lose a few kilos (or more!).
The problem is that diets don’t actually work. And, if they do work, they aren’t sustainable (do you really want to never eat carbs ever again?). Here is some of the science that refutes the diet industry scams we’re all tempted to fall for.
1) Their products just don’t work
The healthiest approach to eating is not a matter of opinion. Scientific evidence derived from decades of research all points to one thing that does work: eating less and exercising more. And yet it seems that the most marketable and even outlandish ideas are what get the most attention when it comes to weight loss—not necessarily the ideas that are really going to work!
Just because you would like to lose five kilos in two weeks does not mean that this is realistic. However, people sell outrageous ideas like this in various diet books and plans because people want to believe it’s possible.
This weight-loss trend is dangerous. And it doesn’t even work.
2) They want you to fail
You know who is the most delighted that you want to lose twenty pounds in two weeks even though it’s impossible? The diet industry. If dieting really worked you’d only need to do it once. But the US Federal Trade Commission indicates diets have a 98 percent failure rate, which means big money for the diet industry. If a car was likely to break down in its first year off the lot, would you even think about buying it? A company that produced such a lemon would quickly go out of business.