Research has shown that “dieting” and an obsession with the scales can have a negative effect on your motivation for weight control.

“Dieting” can lead to short-term weight loss, but it is also associated with a feeling of deprivation or hunger, making it unsustainable. Often, when we can’t have something like cakes and chocolates, we only want it more, resulting in unhealthy yo-yo weight changes and an overall weight gain.

We know that being overweight is not good for our health as it puts extra strain on our limbs and heart and other organs of our bodies and as well as effecting our emotional wellbeing. A survey conducted by the DAA has found that 60% of women and 40% of men want to lose weight and 63% of Australian adults are overweight or obese.

Maya McColm, an accredited dietitian nutritionist stated that, “healthy eating is not all about the scales or “dieting”, but about making positive and sensible lifestyle changes”. Maya stated that with 30 years experience as a dietitian she has seen many fad diets come and go and then come back into fashion again. She says that, “fad diets and easy fixes don’t work, but slow and steady wins the race”. “Every client is made up differently. They have different eating habits, different bodies and different relationships with food and all these differences should be taken into account when supporting clients to choose the best lifestyle changes to achieve their health results”.

Some healthy eating lifestyle changes could include:

• Preparing and eating more meals at home
• Eat off a smaller plate
• Choose healthier snacks
• Walk daily
• Choosing a healthy breakfast and
• Many more

Each year in February the Dietitian Association of Australia (DAA) run an initiative called Australian Healthy Weight Week. This year’s campaign focuses at encouraging more Australians to cook at home as a way to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight. An survey commissioned by the DAA in October 2015 showed that just over 1 in 10 Australian Adults eat take-away or eat out for dinner three of more days a week.

Research supports that making positive lifestyle changes such as preparing food at home, usually results in eating smaller portions and taking fewer kilojoules and less fat, salt and sugar and in turn, more likely to improve weight control.

Maya McColm states that long-term weight success is not about “dieting” or watching the scales, but about incorporating healthy lifestyle changes that suit you, the individual and then your “weight” takes care of itself.

See your local APD Dietitian for more information on obtaining a personalise eating plan with recommendations on effective lifestyle changes to achieve your nutrition health goals.

Maya McColm is an APD Dietitian Nutritionist with more than 30 years experience who has developed a web based technology app called “NERO – Nutrition Education Resources Online”. Nero free app allows you to assess your current eating habits, monitor your progress and access scientifically backed nutrition education resources and professionals. NERO – Nutrition Hero.