Is your New Year’s resolution to shed a few pounds? If so,
think twice before jumping on the “diet” bandwagon. According to a research study conducted by
the New York-based NPD Group Inc., dieting has fallen out of favor while trying
to eat healthier is in.
Twenty-nine percent of women and 19 percent of men are on diets, based on
the responses of 26,000 American adults, compared to 10 years ago when 35
percent of women and 23 percent of men said they were dieting.
"The problem with diets is most people feel deprived, or they're
disappointed with the results. Of course, results will come if you stick with
it," NPD Vice President Harry Balzer said in a telephone interview.
"But people see dieting as not a long-term healthful way to live."
Improving overall health was the prime motivation for 68 percent of those on
a diet, according to the survey, which was sponsored by the Milk Processor
Education Program, promoter of the "Got Milk?" advertising campaign.
"We've become more accepting of our weight and the most important thing
is, are you healthy?" Balzer said.
The most popular diet was one dieters made up for themselves -- helped by
more detailed nutritional labels on packaged foods and a plethora of guides to
slimming down.
One-third of the dieters in NPD's surveys said they had formulated their own
approach, usually through portion control, and 9 percent subscribed to an
"extreme diet" calling for either severe calorie reductions or
eliminating a food group such as carbohydrates.
Adults' desire to lose weight -- specifically, 20 pounds in NPD's surveys --
is one thing that has not shifted much since topping out in 2001 at around 60
percent, Balzer said. The portion of U.S. adults who are overweight has
plateaued at around 62 percent, he noted.
Eight out of 10 dieters said their goal was both to lose weight and improve
their health -- a sign of growing acceptance that a healthy weight may not
equate to slimness.
The percentage of adults who viewed an overweight person as unattractive has
dropped to 25 percent from more than 50 percent in past decades, Balzer said.
Despite the penchant for healthier eating, many Americans still opt for
convenience, as NPD's surveys and the array of fast-food restaurants in many
communities showed, Balzer said.
"The problem with fresh vegetable is they're not easy," he said. Most important is how much does it cost and how easy it is to get it? A secondary factor is how healthy is it?"
Jason - a Lumen
