well as stress reduction and other techniques aimed at
better emotional health. The newest program, the
Mastering Eating program, is intended to help dieters
identify and change negative eating habits for better
control over food in their lives. Dietwatch is also
intended to help dieters become more fit and to attain
overall better health.
Benefits
There are many benefits to losing weight if it is
done at a moderate pace through healthy eating and
increased exercise.Obesityis a risk factor for many
diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, car-
diovascular disease, andhypertension. People who are
the most obese are generally at the greatest risk and are
likely to have more severe symptoms if these diseases
develop. Losing weight can reduce the risk of these
and other obesity-related diseases, and in some cases it
can help reduce the severity of symptoms if the dis-
eases have already occurred.
The Dietwatch program is designed to provide
dieters with support for all the phases and processes
of weight loss. Many dieters may find having all this
support and information available in one place to be
very helpful. The nutritional information may help
dieters make more informed eating decisions, espe-
cially when eating out. The inclusion of a vegetarian
meal planning option makes this diet available for
vegetarian dieters who may be underserved by other
diets offering meal plans.
One of the main aspects of the Dietwatch program
is motivation. This comes in many forms including
helpful and motivational tips from nutritionists and
other dieters. Many dieters may find that the oppor-
tunity to find a dieting buddy that shares their same
goals and challenges provides support that is more
personal and effective than is usually available in
commercial diet programs. Many dieters may also
appreciate the opportunity to ask dieticians and
other health professionals specific questions instead
of relying on general information.
Precautions
Anyone thinking of beginning a new diet should
consult a doctor or other medical professional. Indi-
viduals have different requirements for calories,
vitamins,minerals, and other nutrients. Talking to
a doctor can help dieters insure that a new diet is
the right diet to meet all their personal needs and
that weight loss can be achieved without sacrificing
good health. Pregnant and breastfeeding women
should be especially cautious when beginning a new
diet because what a mother eats can have a significant
impact on a baby.RisksThere are some risks to any diet. Eating a limited
diet can make it difficult for a dieter to get all of the
vitamins and minerals required for good health. Gen-
erally, when following a good diet that contains many
different fruits and vegetables this risk is not too sig-
nificant, but dieters may want to consult a doctor
about taking a multivitamin or dietary supplement to
help reduce the risk of deficiency.
When beginning a new exercise routine, it is
important that dieters begin with light or moderate
exercise and slowly increase the intensity of the activity
over weeks or months. Suddenly beginning a strenu-
ous exercise routine can have many risks, especially if
the dieter has been inactive for many years. Less seri-
ous risks include the risk of straining or spraining a
muscle, but more serious risks can even include heart
attack if the exercise is very strenuous and is begun
suddenly. Risk of injury during exercise can be
reduced if proper warm up and cool down procedures
are followed, including stretching all appropriate
muscle groups. Dieters should consult a doctor before
beginning any new exercise routine, especially if it is
possible that they have heart disease or other cardio-
vascular problems that might put them at high risk for
serious injury.QUESTIONS TO ASK THE
DOCTOR Is this diet the best diet to meet my goals?
Would a multivitamin or other dietary
supplement be appropriate for me if I were to
begin this diet?
Do I have any special nutritional needs that this
diet might not meet?
At what level of intensity is it appropriate for me
to begin exercising?
Does diet or exercise pose any special risk for me
that I should be aware of?
Is this diet appropriate for my entire family?
Is it safe for me to follow this diet over a long
period of time?
Are there any sign or symptoms that might
indicate a problem while on this diet?Dietwatch