According to a study, almost fifty percent of all Americans are on some form of diet on any given day in order to loose weight. Another study says that ninety-five percent of all people who made a diet for weight loss are gaining back their old weight within the next five years.

Here are some other numbers. More than twenty-five million Americans suffer from binge eating disorder, another 10 million from anorexia nervosa, a quite dangerous eating disorder with a very high mortality rate, or bulimia nervosa, another harmful eating disorder.

The causes for eating disorders are still researched but it is assumed that the dieting mania has something to do with it. One thing is certain though. Doctors agree that many diets lead to various forms of malnutrition.

When you compare these numbers, then it is a surprise to see that so many are on diet. If diets have such a low rate of success and probably lead to harmful or even deadly eating disorders, why would anyone ever consider making a diet?

Is it provocative to say that the multi-billion dieting industry is not interested much in helping others to achieve a lasting weight loss success? What could be better for a business than a customer who comes back again, and again, and again. Always chasing the next new diet or the next big thing to loose weight quickly.

In fact, there is big money made with the dreams and hopes of the people. And it will continue to be made for a simple reason. People do not want to go the long, hard way but looking for the quick fix.

The only way which has been successful in the past and will be in the future is to eat a healthy and balanced diet combined with a little bit of exercise and, most important, the right attitude. The word diet here is kind of misplaced. A healthy and balanced diet means nothing more than eating normal. Eat everything you want and whenever you want. Just make sure it is healthy and gives your body all the nutrients from various sources.

The reason why diets do not work is because they do not include any exercise nor a change in the attitude. You can try all the tricks you want, it will not work. You can swallow the latest diet pills, starve, abuse drugs, leave out fat, count calories, whatever. When you do not change your mind you will fail.

This is also where eating disorders come into play. Since diets do not bring the desired results, people continue to try everything what promises these results. Over time eating disorders establish and take over control.

What most people forget is the fact that all the diets they try, do not only have effect on their body but also their mind. It changes the way you look and treat food and nutrition.

Eating disorders are found in children already, some are just seven years old. Once the eating disorder is established and part of your behavior, they could be there for the rest of your life.

It all started with the first diet. We are what we eat but we are also how we eat.