There are several reasons why most diets don’t work, an expert has revealed. (Getty Images)
From counting calories or restricting carbs, to eating only during certain time periods of the day, there are a plethora of diets that people try in order to lose weight.
In fact, a 2019 study from Kantar found that, at any given time, 45% of UK women are actively trying to lose weight, as are 30% of British men.
A separate study from The Laughing Cow found that the average Brit will start and fail 189 diets in their lifetime and attempt three diets each year. So why do most diets not work?
Read more: 12 expert-approved weight loss tips good for your body and mind
“Most people fail to stick with their diet long enough for it to work sustainably,” nutrition expert Vidur Saini from Fitness Volt explains.
“They are strong out of the gate but soon fall off the wagon and return to their previously sub-optimal eating plan.”
Saini adds that this is why so many of us regain the weight we lose from dieting. “It seems long-term, sustainable weight loss is rare nowadays.”
Why do most diets fail?
Tracking and counting your calories is crucial when it comes to losing weight. (Getty Images)
1. You ban entire food groups
Some diets, such as the paleo diet, bans all processed foods, while the keto diet bans carbohydrates, for example. Saini explains that the problem with cutting out certain food groups is that it is “guaranteed to trigger cravings”.
“Essentially, any diet that bans a particular food or food group will invariably result in cravings, driving you to cheat on your diet,” he adds.
“Allow yourself the smallest amount of this particular food or drink to allow your body to feel like it isn’t being deprived of something. Everything in moderation.”
2. Ingredients cost too much
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, buying fresh ingredients needed for some diet plans isn’t always financially viable for many households.
“For example, some diets specify that you must eat expensive foods and that somehow these products are better for weight loss than those that are more reasonably priced,” Saini observes.
“Organic vegetables and grass-fed beef from free-roaming…