Classical Argument

The Skinny on Dieting

Student at:

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Author Note

This paper was prepared for English 123: English Composition, taught by Pamela Smith

The Skinny on Dieting

Is your email inbox is full of claims that will help you lose 10, 15 even 20 pounds in as little as 2 weeks. Maybe one diet wants you to cut out carbs altogether, or another one has a special smoothie to drink. Losing weight using improper dieting techniques can unhealthy, even dangerous. I will show you how losing weight the wrong way can slow your metabolism, put your life at risk by robbing your body of required nutrients and deplete your body of muscle.

Metabolism is the rate your body consumes calories. When we crash diet, we severely diminish our caloric intake. Evolution has provided animals a way to combat starvation, Wang (2006) notes “when deprived of food, animals employ various behavioral, physiological, and structural responses to reduce metabolism” (p.223). As we lower our metabolism we burn calories at a slower rate and allow for the storage of the calories excess as fat. We train our bodies to more efficiently use the calories we have provided it during our diets, efficiency is not always good. Dr. David Garner states “When dieters return to former eating habits, this hoarding of calories continues for as long as two more years, causing the body to accumulate more excess poundage. In other words, dieting may actually contribute to obesity in the long run” (as cited in Deskins, 1992). This yo-yo effect drives the dieter to diet again further slowing their metabolism and damaging their bodies.

Improper dieting techniques will not only reduce your caloric intake but can severely reduce the amount of vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates you intake as well. A recent study by Jayson Calton shows that 4 of the most popular diet plans show a significant nutrient deficiency (2010). Calton further explains that people using these dieting...