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If your waiting in a checkout line this week pick up the latest issue of
U.S. News & World Report, January 16, 2006, and read Amanda Spake's
four page report in the Health & Medicine column of the magazine.
Spake reviews the scientific literature, and interviews top scientists,
debunking the myths of dieting for weight loss. The message of the
article is in support of a healthy diet, fill with unprocessed foods,
low-fat choices, and fruits & vegetables combined with exercise.
The take home message: exercise and eat for health rather than diet
for weight loss.
The article covers topics from studies published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association which looked at obesity and mortality -
finding that overweight but not obese individuals actually live
longer than normal weight individuals; disease -
finding that diet and exercise lowers disease risk as much as
weight loss; and comparisons of diets (including the Atkins,
Ornish, Zone, and Weight Watchers) - finding little difference in
weight loss between diets.
There is coverage and analysis of the Women's Health Initiative
study which supports previous research that found most
diets don't work for long term weight loss; and interviews
from researchers professing the virtues of activity and the root cause of
obesity in our society coming as much from inactivity as from large portion
sizes.
While not all the answers are given the article is a clear and
concise read and will get you thinking about whether you want to eat for health
or for weight loss. Eating for health may not be as attractive or profitable as
dieting since it is not a quick fix nor profitable for the $30+ billion a year
weight loss industry but it will enhance your life and reduce the likelihood of
degenerative disease.
For more, check out pages 61 to 66 of the magazine, along with future posts
within the FOYP. | 
