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Does dieting make you fat?

Andrew J Hill1

  • 1Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT, UK. a.j.hill@leeds.ac.uk

The British Journal of Nutrition
|September 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Dieting paradoxically increases weight gain risk, especially in women, due to metabolic changes and disinhibited eating. This review critically examines evidence linking dietary restraint to obesity and binge eating.

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Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • The common belief that dieting leads to weight gain, popularized by the book 'Dieting Makes You Fat,' aligns with anecdotal evidence and the frequent failure of obesity treatments.
  • Prospective studies suggest a correlation between baseline dieting or dietary restraint and increased risk of weight gain, particularly among women.
  • Metabolic adaptations and disinhibited eating patterns in restrained eaters are frequently proposed mechanisms for this paradoxical weight gain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the scientific evidence supporting the paradox that dieting causes weight gain.
  • To explore the relationship between dietary restraint, weight management, and the development of eating disorders.
  • To present an alternative conclusion regarding the effects of dieting on body weight.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and critical evaluation of existing prospective studies and literature on dieting and weight control.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms, including metabolic adaptations and psychological factors like disinhibited eating.
  • Examination of the link between dietary restraint and binge eating behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that baseline dietary restraint is associated with an increased risk of future weight gain, contrary to the intended effects of dieting.
  • Metabolic changes and psychological factors such as disinhibited eating appear to contribute to weight gain in individuals practicing dietary restraint.
  • Dietary restraint is implicated in the development and maintenance of binge eating disorders.

Conclusions:

  • The paradox of 'dieting makes you fat' is supported by evidence indicating that dietary restraint can lead to weight gain.
  • Understanding the complex interplay between metabolic and psychological factors is crucial for effective obesity treatment.
  • Further research is needed to refine strategies for weight management that avoid the pitfalls of excessive dietary restriction.

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