Judynyc
Tue, May-08-07, 08:08
Study: Dieters slather on the optimism
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-07-dieting-study_N.htm
When it comes to losing weight, people have high hopes: 41% are trying now to trim down, and they'd like to lose 37 pounds, a poll reported Monday.
The survey of 2,058 adults for Consumer Reports magazine by Opinion Research Corporation found:
75% are optimistic that they will reach their weight-loss goal; 19% are unsure; 6% are pessimistic.
85% say their last effort to lose weight was successful.
47% of women and 34% of men say they are striving to trim down.
67% of the weight-loss hopefuls say they're trying to trim down on their own; 16% are participating in free programs; and 8% are paying for a weight-loss program.
67% of people who are trying to lose are watching what they eat and increasing exercise.
The typical dieter says he or she has been on a program for about three months and has lost about 5 pounds a month.
Many of the respondents are "repeat dieters," says Kim Kleman, editor in chief of Consumer Reports. Such people may have lost weight before, but they didn't keep it off or lose as much as they wanted, so they're trying again, she says.
The magazine examines diet programs in the June issue and concludes that the plans backed by the best research include The Volumetrics Eating Plan, a book by Pennsylvania State University researcher Barbara Rolls; Weight Watchers; Jenny Craig; and Slim-Fast.
Another study released last spring showed that people are ambitious when it comes to weight loss.
A Pew Research Center telephone poll of 2,250 people 18 and older, released in April 2006, found that those on a diet would like to drop 29 pounds on average.
In that study, men who wanted to lose weight said they weighed on average 215 pounds and would like to get to 188.
Female dieters reported weighing about 170 pounds and wanting to get down to 141.
Research shows that people often lose about 5% to 10% of their starting weight in three to six months on programs, but then their weight loss often stalls.
Many people become frustrated when they don't lose more or even regain some of what they lost.
"People often have unrealistic expectations of their ability to lose weight," says Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
That can lead to frustration, disappointment and weight regain.
It's difficult to lose weight and keep it off because all the factors that made you heavy to begin with are still there, including your genetics, biology and environmental influences, such as high-calorie foods, restaurants that serve large portions, a sedentary job and social interactions with friends and family, Klein says.
"These factors work against you to bring you back to your original weight."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-07-dieting-study_N.htm
When it comes to losing weight, people have high hopes: 41% are trying now to trim down, and they'd like to lose 37 pounds, a poll reported Monday.
The survey of 2,058 adults for Consumer Reports magazine by Opinion Research Corporation found:
75% are optimistic that they will reach their weight-loss goal; 19% are unsure; 6% are pessimistic.
85% say their last effort to lose weight was successful.
47% of women and 34% of men say they are striving to trim down.
67% of the weight-loss hopefuls say they're trying to trim down on their own; 16% are participating in free programs; and 8% are paying for a weight-loss program.
67% of people who are trying to lose are watching what they eat and increasing exercise.
The typical dieter says he or she has been on a program for about three months and has lost about 5 pounds a month.
Many of the respondents are "repeat dieters," says Kim Kleman, editor in chief of Consumer Reports. Such people may have lost weight before, but they didn't keep it off or lose as much as they wanted, so they're trying again, she says.
The magazine examines diet programs in the June issue and concludes that the plans backed by the best research include The Volumetrics Eating Plan, a book by Pennsylvania State University researcher Barbara Rolls; Weight Watchers; Jenny Craig; and Slim-Fast.
Another study released last spring showed that people are ambitious when it comes to weight loss.
A Pew Research Center telephone poll of 2,250 people 18 and older, released in April 2006, found that those on a diet would like to drop 29 pounds on average.
In that study, men who wanted to lose weight said they weighed on average 215 pounds and would like to get to 188.
Female dieters reported weighing about 170 pounds and wanting to get down to 141.
Research shows that people often lose about 5% to 10% of their starting weight in three to six months on programs, but then their weight loss often stalls.
Many people become frustrated when they don't lose more or even regain some of what they lost.
"People often have unrealistic expectations of their ability to lose weight," says Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
That can lead to frustration, disappointment and weight regain.
It's difficult to lose weight and keep it off because all the factors that made you heavy to begin with are still there, including your genetics, biology and environmental influences, such as high-calorie foods, restaurants that serve large portions, a sedentary job and social interactions with friends and family, Klein says.
"These factors work against you to bring you back to your original weight."