Why do we diet?

Like many Australians, I made a pledge to myself to lose weight this year. I’ve been down this path before and end up shredding like crazy, then putting it all back on and more.

It got me thinking about why I actually want to diet.

On the surface it’s about health. Better heart, living longer, more energy, less scary stuff later in life. But I saw something in a book about weight loss surgery and the desire to fit in or be “normal” — rather than improving health — is the primary motivation for many people who undergo weight-loss surgery. So perhaps the motivation to diet is not that simple. I’ve been looking into reasons to lose weight and the internet generally says they fall into these categories (source: verywellfit.com):

Weight

Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fresh, nutrient-dense fruits and veggies, high-fibre foods and lean protein sources will help you lose weight. At the same time, you will feel satisfied and give your body the nutrients it needs.

While weight loss attracts a majority of the headlines, some people need to gain weight lost due to illness or for other reasons. Choosing healthful, energy-dense foods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit can help you gain weight without resorting to foods that offer calories, but little or no nutrition,

Health and appearance

There are myriad diseases that seem to relate to poor diet and obesity: type 2 diabetes, heart health and cancer to name the main ones. As well as helping to stave off disease eating a well-rounded diet provides you with the carbohydrates you need for energy, along with enough B-complex vitamins to help the process keep moving in positive cycles. A healthy digestive system helps to maintain normal cholesterol and blood sugar levels and fibre helps you feel full, so you’re less likely to overeat. Eating right for your digestive system includes lots of fibre sources, such as fruits, vegetable and whole grains.

Finally eating a nutrient-dense diet helps you look your best by supplying the nutrients your skin needs to stay supple and smooth. Also, your hair needs good nutrition, including plenty of protein, to be soft, shiny, and healthy.

Role Modelling

It’s unrealistic to expect your kids to eat broccoli if you don’t eat anything green yourself. Setting a good example for your child when it comes to healthy foods shows them that you value good nutrition and lets them see what healthy eating really looks like.

I also saw an interesting article this week on the way diets have changed in Australia over the past thirty years. In the 1990s there was far less choice on the supermarket shelves, Uber Eats wasn’t a thing and fast-food options were limited; it’s so much easier now to grab a lot of kilojoules. However, nutrition science has seen a few new trends emerge in the last 30 years:

• Guts are important! One of the most exciting frontiers of nutrition science is the microbiome – the collective term for the colonies of bacteria that populate our digestive system – and pro- and prebiotics, or the foods we eat to keep it healthy. We’ve taken on board this information in a big way and developed a range of smoothies that are prebiotic (they contain konjac which is a special type of fibre that supports your gut and digestive health).
• Looking at patterns in what we eat. We have a greater understanding of the way food and its component elements work as a bundle
• The importance of omega-3 fatty acids. Nutritional science has shown the benefits of DHA and EPA important in preventing and managing heart disease.

No matter what you decide to take, not take or change in your diet please make sure you consult your doctor to make sure it’s right for you. It’s also important to define what healthy eating means for you and what will best motivate you to reach your personal health goals.