Weight loss plans are big business in todays world of low fiber, high fat, high cholesterol foods. Since the advent of fast food restaurants, otherwise known as "junk foods", people have gone from a much healthier, restricted way of eating to something more convenient.
Working a day job and then having to come home to cook a hearty healthy meal from scratch is not something that appeals to many people. Grabbing a burger from the local fast food restaurant or ordering a pizza to go is quicker and more convenient. Even bakery produce such as donuts and cookies can be purchased quite cheaply, either ready made or in cartons or tins to unwrap and bake at home in 10 minutes flat. None of these foods contain the nutrients and vitamins that are needed to keep us healthy. Because of this, obesity and health problems have become an everyday worry for many people.
The "solutions" are many, ranging from fad diets such as eating only oranges all day to diet pills to fasting and weekly meetings with weight loss programs. Film stars and pop icons seem to be getting thinner and thinner each time they step out into the crowds and there has been a lot of concern lately from the media for their state of health.
Young people, especially girls, tend to "copy" the eating habits of their favorite pop star or film icon and some become so obsessed with their weight that they can develop bulimia or anorexia nervosa in a plight to achieve their ideal weight. Because of their state of minds however, they always see themselves as being overweight even if they are not, they continue to diet and lose weight at an alarming rate until they are all but a living skeleton, leading to premature death. So the question is this: Is dieting bad for you?
This all depends on the type of diet that you are going to undertake. Stopping eating altogether is completely unhealthy and can lead to all types of medical problems. If you do not eat, your body will store the fat, fearing starvation and all that will happen is that you will become so hungry that you will probably "binge" eat and you will not lose any weight at all.
Eating just one type of food all day every day is considered a "fad" diet and will not help you to lose weight in a healthy way. Again, your body will fear starvation and will store most of the fat for later. Unhealthy dieting pills can be purchased over the counter as well as being prescribed to you by your doctor. Slimming patches too are now available from your local pharmacy.
However, the best and most effective way of losing weight and keeping it off is to eat a healthy low fat diet. Having a variety of nutritious foods such as fruit and vegetables will not only help you to lose weight but will keep your body strong and healthy and give you a healthy glow.
If you are overweight, it is bad for your health much the same as if you are underweight. Starvation is not the answer but a healthy diet free from "fad" foods and junk foods is.
