Consequences of dieting to lose weight: effects on physical and mental health.

Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015.

Concern has been raised that negative physiological and psychological effects of dieting may outweigh aesthetic and health benefits. This review of the literature concludes the following: (a) The measurement of dieting is an important unresolved issue; (b) current dieting, chronic dieting, desire to lose weight, specific weight control behaviors, and weight changes may have different effects on health and need to be distinguished; (c) dieting is usually not associated with nutritional deficiencies, adverse physiologic adaptations, severe psychological reactions, or the development of eating disorders; and (d) recommendations against weight loss efforts involving moderate changes in eating and exercise habits are not warranted.

PMID: 8055855 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]