Have you gone on a grueling 8-week long diet, applauded yourself for emerging 3 kilograms lighter, but subsequently struggled hard to keep the weight off post-diet?
You’re not alone.
A combined analysis of 29 long-term weight loss studies showed that people had difficulty maintaining their weight loss, with over 80% of lost weight being regained within 5 years.
What’s wrong with traditional weight loss diets?
- Reliable for inducing short-term weight loss, but not sustainable over the long-term
- No emphasis on adopting healthy lifestyle habits to reap full benefits of improved mortality
- Fixation on food and body image
- Recurring cycles of weight loss and regain
- Diverts attention away from other non-weight focused health goals, e.g. mental health
- Diminished self-esteem and body satisfaction
- Can potentially lead to disordered eating habits
Evidently, the conventional weight-focused treatment may be ineffective or damaging.
As a result, there has been a shift to the “non-diet” or “intuitive eating” approach, based on Health at Every Size® (HAES) principles, focusing on adopting a holistic approach to bettering health, with less emphasis placed on weight and body size.
Is the non-diet approach backed by evidence?
Absolutely! Several high-quality studies (randomised clinical trials) have shown that this approach yields significant positive effects on physiological, psychosocial and behavioural outcomes, including:
- Lowered blood pressure and blood fat levels
- Improved mood, self-esteem, body image
- Less anxiety and stress around food
- Increased physical activity levels
- Reduced disordered eating habits
In addition, when compared to traditional weight loss treatment, the non-diet approach was consistently found to have higher retention rates.
The non-diet approach to health can help you:
- Trust and listen to your hunger cues
- Feel empowered to choose foods that will satisfy and nourish your body
- Incorporate more flexibility and variety in your diet
- Reduce the guilt and shame around eating and weight gain
- Accept your body for what it looks like
- Include forms of physical activity that you genuinely enjoy
Interested in adopting the non-diet approach to achieving your health goals? I work with women who are ready to ditch dieting and start listening to their hunger cues. Click here to book your FREE Strategy Call.
