Dieting dilemma addressed by Benenden Health

More than three quarters of Britons have tried to lose weight by dieting but only a fifth of them said successful dieting had made them happier, according to new research from not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health. 

Most people first consider dieting around the age of 30, but one in four say they were already trying to lose weight when they were aged 16 to 25. Only 22% of 1,000 adults across the UK who were questioned for the survey claimed they had never considered trying to lose weight. 

The average age when people say they first decided to try to lose weight was shown to be 30, with a quarter of respondents (26%) saying that they were 16-25 when they first considered it. Only a fifth of Brits (22%) said they had no weight concerns and have never considered a diet.

According to the survey, only 56% of adults think that their relationship with food is a healthy one, though men were more likely to believe this than women – 64% versus 49%. Only 43% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they were happy with their eating habits.

“It is no great surprise to find that so many individuals in the UK have an unhealthy relationship with food,” said Benenden Health matron Cheryl Lythgoe. “The challenge and burden of constantly assessing our eating habits can also have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing with calorie counting often making us feel worse. There is nothing wrong with losing weight if it is necessary for health reasons but dedicated diets and slimming programmes are often unsustainable and ultimately unnecessary in improving our health, not to mention the impact they can have on our wallets. The best way to approach your diet is simply to ensure you are getting a good balance of food groups, vitamins and minerals and a good tip is to aim for a rainbow of colours on your plate,” she says.

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