The fact that the diet appears to be ineffective is only one of plenty possible unpleasant consequences.
Losing a kilo or two often means that we also lose much more valuable things, like the pleasure of eating. Here are 8 unpleasant consequences of dieting.
1. Overeating by the end of the diet resulting a strong sense of guilt. The studies have showed that over 49 percent of people tend to overeat by the end of a diet.
2. Distrust of yourself when choosing foods. Each diet teaches us not to trust either your body or your food. Then we may also stop relying on our feelings, like whether we are hungry or not, which exacerbates the already precarious relationship with our food.
3. Life based in diets. The more often you follow a diet, the less you are able to do so.
4. The last dinner. Before starting a diet people tend to overeat, so they would enjoy their favorite foods for the “last time”. This overeating can last one or a few days.
5. Social isolation . Since almost all communication revolves around food (going out, cafes, restaurants, picnics) it becomes easier to refuse invitations.
6. Slower metabolism . Dieting makes our metabolism slow down as our body saves every calorie as if it was the last one. So eating just as much, we may put on more weight.
7. Excessive consumption of caffeine. Sometimes it seems we will only survive if we drink liters of coffee or energy drinks . After all, it is natural, our body has to get energy from something. However, caffeine helps just at the beginning, then it causes irritability and an even greater desire to eat.
8. Eating disorders. Some people who constantly follow diets end up with more serious eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.