No
matter which diet they try, a third of people trying to lose
weight find they actually end up piling on the pounds, a survey
has found.
The
British Dietetic Association said a survey of 4,000 men and
women found an obsession with "quick-fix" diets.
It said this led to "yo-yo" dieting, as people tried every
new weight-loss plan that came along.
The survey found that over a quarter of people are constantly
fighting the bulge.
But over 40% admit they end up giving in to temptation.
Exercise plan
Ten per cent of those who gain weight after dieting put on
up to a stone on top of their pre-diet weight.
Women revealed they were more likely to pile the weight back
on after a diet, with nearly 40% saying they ended up being
heavier than before as opposed to 20% of men.
While a majority of people said they were currently trying
to lose weight, virtually all of them said they realised yo-yo
dieting was bad for their health.
To try to help people diet more effectively, the British Dietetic
Association has launched an internet guide, called bdaweightwise.com
to offer practical advice and support, including a body mass
index calculator and a home exercise programme.
'Unhappy'
The BDA survey also found that just 18% of dieters ever reach
their target weight.
The public does have a love affair with yo-yo dieting
Lis Anderson, British Dietetic Association One in five people
manage to stick to their diet for up to a month at a time,
while 10% last up to eight weeks.
The survey found that two thirds of men and over three quarters
of women are constantly unhappy with their weight.
Almost 20% of men feel like they need to lose between one
and one and a half stone (6.35 to 9.52kg). Women's target
tends to be smaller, with most wanting to lose between half
a stone and a stone (3.17 to 6.35kg).
Lis Anderson, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association,
told BBC News Online: "A lot of diets, such as Atkin's, South
Beach or the grapefruit diet involve rigorous eating plans.
"People get fed up, and go back to having a few treats. In
addition, often they haven't involved exercise in their weight-loss
plan, so they do put weight on."
She added: "The public does have a love affair with yo-yo
dieting.
"You only have to see what happens when a new diet or exercise
book comes out.
"There's a definite obsession with looking for a "quick-fix".
No
matter which diet they try, a third of people trying to lose
weight find they actually end up piling on the pounds, a survey
has found.
