Say No to Dieting

By Jessica Wettig

            Physical fitness has a major impact on our culture in modern society. Looking at Marilyn Monroe, we didn’t always want girls to be thirty pounds underweight--but somehow that’s the kind of society we have turned into.

            The truth is, however, most people do not exercise. In fact, only twenty percent of Americans exercise, according to Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society by Daniel D. McLean and Amy R. Hurd.

            Ninety five percent of diets fail, according to Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. So maybe the other eighty percent of our country is onto something. Your weight will be gained back within five years time of losing the weight.

            However, 24 million people in the United States suffer from eating disorders, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

            Why? Society demands perfection, so that’s what people strive for.

            Twenty five percent of college-aged women have an eating disorder. Eating disorders kill more people ages 18-25 than any other mental illness--which makes an eating disorder a deadly disease.

            Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and eating disorder otherwise not specified (EDNOS).

            Where do we go from these facts? We can start by learning the truth.

            According to The Overcoming Bulimia Workbook by Randi E. McCabe, Traci L. McFarlane and Marion P. Olmsted, our bodies have certain weight ranges in which they try to maintain. Studies proved that when one gains weight, their metabolism increases in order to drop the weight. Raised body temperature is a key sign.

            When we lose weight, our metabolism slows down with our body temperatures. If we lose weight suddenly, our body will go into famine mode and try to retain as many calories as possible, according to Tribole and Resch.

            So the truth is being healthy is subjective, and comes in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, dieting is pointless, a lie and absolutely ridiculous.