Diet Books: Fat On Profits, Skinny On Results? : NPR.
It must be a few weeks until folks want to start going outside wearing less clothing — two days in a row, NPR has had items on health and diet, this time focusing on the books folks turn to for guidance. Not shown in the article, but featured rather prominently in the audio, is host Renee Montagne’s ultra-concise summary of what works:
Eat less and exercise more.
At the bottom of any effort to lose weight, things are fundamentally even simpler than playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. However, that doesn’t stop folks from tweaking and repackaging those two basic notions, whether it’s merely to make a buck or for an honest desire to help people get healthier with a multitude of angles. Whether the author is catering to one demographic by offering New Age “natural foods and spiritual cleansing” or speaking to aspiring physique competitors with a “lean muscle and fat loss” program, at the bottom, all weight-loss regimens focus on the two basic fundamentals:
Eat less and exercise more.
The problem for this entire genre of the self-help industry is that nobody’s gonna buy a book that’s five words long.
That isn’t to say there isn’t value in participating in a proscribed diet or weight-loss program. Some folks, the author included, need a specific structure to follow for a while to develop a more healthful routine. Other people may need to gain a better understanding of nutritional basics, so that they can make better eating decisions. Still others have good eating habits, but require guidance, encouragement, or advice when it comes to getting more active.
And some people just need the feeling of guilt and obligation, after laying out $14.95, to try and get their money’s worth.
Whether you fall into one of these categories or not, whether you’ve tried a lot of different programs, or are trying to get healthier for the first time, whether you’re keenly attuned to your body’s exercise and nutritional needs or have a vague sense that “fruit is better for me than pizza,” taking the initiative to become more informed and motivated is a great first step.
Kill ten rats. But only eat four of ‘em.
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