Chronic dieting comes at a high cost, affecting various aspects of our lives, from our physical health to our mental well-being and social connections. Here's a condensed overview of the unseen consequences - watch the video or the blog below:
Physiological Impact:
Metabolism Problems: Chronic dieting slows down your metabolism, giving you the opposite outcome of why youre dieting in the first place
Sugar Cravings: Restrictive diets intensify sugar cravings,, making it harder to eat in a balanced way
Appetite Disconnection: Chronic dieting severs the connection with natural appetite signals, causing confusion about hunger and fullness.
Fatigue: Low energy is common even after a good night's sleep.
Other Health Issues: Calorie-focused or food group-restrictive diets can lead to hair loss and irregular menstrual cycles due to nutrient deficiencies. or insufficient food intake
Psychological Toll:
Food Obsession: Chronic dieters fixate on food, perpetually thinking about what they can or can't eat.
Counting Madness: Counting calories, points, carbs, or weighing food becomes an exhausting and obsessive routine.
All-or-Nothing Thinking: Chronic dieters adopt a mindset of perfection or failure.- there’s nothing inbetween!
Guilt and Shame: A burden of guilt and shame accompanies their complex relationship with food.
Fear of Hunger or Feeling Full: A fear of hunger or inability to control fullness emerges.
Mood Swings: Extreme diets lead to mood swings affecting not just the individual but also those around them.
Loss of Self-Trust: Loss of belief in yourself and your capabilities is common
Psychological Food Rules: Strange food rules and rigid eating patterns lead to disordered eating behaviour
Behavioural Consequences:
All-or-Nothing Behavior: Breaking diet rules often results in ‘Ive blown it’ so I might as well carry on ‘behaviour and then food restriction the next day
Skipping Meals: Chronic dieters may skip meals even when hungry to adhere to strict diet plans.
Eating More in Response to Stress: Emotional eating becomes a coping mechanism for managing stress and negative emotions.
Compulsive Exercise: Physical activity becomes a way for compensating for calories eaten rather than as a source of joy, health, and well-being.
Binge Eating Behaviour: Restrictive diets frequently lead to binge eating as the body ‘s in built survival mechanisms increase appetite hormones and cravings
Social Impacts:
Isolation: Chronic dieters find it challenging to share meals with others, often eating differently or avoiding social occasions involving food.
Judgment and Comparison: Constantly comparing and judging others' food choices becomes a common practice.
Perceived Judgment: Individuals feel like others scrutinise their food choices, body, or eating habits.
Avoiding Social Occasions: Fear of food-related discomfort or anxiety about what to eat can result in cancelled plans and social isolation.
Relationship Strain: Beliefs about food and self-worth can strain relationships and friendships
Impact on Children: Children often pick up on disordered eating behaviour, potentially affecting their own relationship with food.
You may be able to resonate with many of the areas mentioned and perhaps feel a signigicant amount of fear about breaking free from dieting and restriction. But the good news is that there is a way to build a happy relationship with food. Don't hesitate to reach out for support and book in a complimentary call HERE to find out how I can help.