And a happy new year it is. . . Several news pieces this year have already made me squeal with delight!
Have you heard that the percentage of Americans (women, in particular) who are on a diet has drastically declined in the last 20 years? The NPD Group, who conducted the study, report:
Our data suggests that dieters are giving up on diets more quickly than in the past. In 2004, 66 percent of all dieters said they were on a diet for at least 6 months. In 2012, that number dropped to 62 percent. Perhaps people are not seeing results quickly enough. . . Americans still want to lose weight, but we are seeing a change in attitudes about being overweight.According to the NPD, from 1992-2012, the percentage of female dieters has dropped from 34% to 23%.
Then, of course, there was the recent JAMA publication, a meta-analytic research review (that means the results are powerful!) that found that overweight people have a lower risk of mortality than people of "normal" weight. The study even found that those who are low grade obese (BMI = 30-34.9) had equal rates of mortality as their "normal"-weight peers.
And, just last week, UCLA Sociologist, Dr. Abigail Saguy wrote a fabulous OP-ED for the LA Times. Saguy recently published the book, What's Wrong With Fat?, which I can't wait to get my hands on when it (hopefully) arrives in my mailbox this week. Take a peak here:
Hope your new year is off to a healthy and happy start. . . .
3 comments:
as i was flipping channels the other night, i passed by some hideous events on The Biggest Loser.
i really hope your premise in this post is right.
it's hard for me to see improvement, but i'm going to be positive and accept what you say. :-)
Oh, right, there is. . . that. But, the thing is, at least some of the research I mentioned is getting picked up by the media and at least the word is getting out. It's going to be a long, slow ride, but at least we've left the driveway.
That book looks interesting-have you got a copy yet?
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