Diets Demonstrate Danger

Extreme dieting negatively impacts our society.

THIS EDITORIAL REFLECTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. THIRTEEN OUT OF 23 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.

Going on a diet is not always a bad thing. If recommended by your doctor, you can lose a lot of weight in a healthy way under medical supervision. However, most people’s idea of what it means to be “skinny” or “fit” has been greatly distorted due to the influence of lean celebrities in Hollywood and slim models in advertisements. This tainted conception of body image impacts people everywhere, especially teenagers, because it makes them think that they need to diet even if they are nowhere close to being overweight.

The idea of dieting has become so apparent in our society that the word “diet” itself has developed a negative connotation. Types of diets vary and some are certainly healthier or less extreme than others.

Juice cleanses have become popular recently because they have been advertised as a way to reboot your body and get rid of toxins. But there are a lot of negatives to these cleanses that many people may not be aware of. According to US News, many juice cleanses restrict people to less than 1,000 calories per day, way below the approximate 2,000 that people need. By not giving your body the energy it needs, you can actually alter your metabolism and slow it down. In fact, because juice cleanses can be so low in protein, they may actually break down muscle tissue rather than fat. All of these negatives aside, juice cleanses are very expensive; T. Loft’s cleanses, for example, are a whopping $55 per day.

Something that can be just as harmful to your body as extreme dieting is not eating or skipping meals. Everyone knows the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but many don’t take it very seriously. According

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T. Loft 8025 State Line Road, W 81st St, Kansas City, 64114 to healthychildren.org, skipping breakfast is more likely to cause weight gain than it is to prevent it. Actually, the biggest predictor of overeating is undereating. People who miss meals tend to, in a sense, starve themselves for a short time and then at the next meal, they eat too much. Skipping meals can also lead to serious eating disorders and health issues. Low calorie diets are very common among people who want to lose a few pounds quickly. However, they are more geared towards those who are obese. With many calorie counter apps available, people take advantage of them without knowing the reality behind what they’re doing. According to WebMD, most low calorie diets offer between 800-1,500 calories per day, but can also be well below 800. These are not recommended for teenagers. Healthyeating.sfgate.com reports that there are many side effects possible such as nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, intolerance to cold, menstrual irregularities and hair loss. If the diet is not well planned, nutrient deficiencies may develop, and if it lacks fiber, constipation is also likely. More serious health risks associated with these diets are gallstones, heart arrhythmia, stroke and brain hemorrhage. So “dieting” may not be the best option for you to live a healthy lifestyle, but good eating habits and exercise are. Fitness.gov says that only one in three children are physically active every day and about 90 percent of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. The way to handle weight loss and maintaining one’s figure is to exercise regularly and eat healthier alternatives. Fast food, excessive snacking and junk food can easily be cut down and substituted with different types of fruit, vegetables, granola and much more. If you want to create a better diet for yourself without actually having to “diet,” try watching your daily dose of Netflix while running on the treadmill and swapping out your after school snack of chips for a banana. (Artwork submitted by senior Abby Hamilton)

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