This paper examines the prevalence of diet aid use among college-aged women with high weight and shape concerns, drawing on research by Celio et al. (2006) and Myles (2014). It explores two key pressures driving this trend: the hectic demands of modern life that lead to poor dietary choices, and cultural beauty standards that push young women toward quick-fix solutions. The paper argues that these factors increase vulnerability to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and that diet aids offer only short-term results while compromising health. Proper nutrition education and lifestyle changes are presented as the only sustainable path to healthy weight management.
Our culture has set a high standard for physical appearance and beauty that commonly influences young women. These young women are often led to believe that there are easy solutions to weight management — solutions sold in bottles. The journal article Use of Diet Pills and Other Diet Aids in a College Population with High Weight and Shape Concerns by Celio et al. (2006) sought to establish the extent of diet aid usage among college-aged women and identify the psychosocial and demographic drivers behind it. The results revealed a substantially high rate of diet aid use among college women, with a significant 32.4% indicating they had used diet aids at least once during the period of interest.
There are really two factors at play that put pressure on this demographic. First, there are the busy and hectic lifestyles that characterize modern life. Under these pressures, it is common for individuals to neglect their diet. Furthermore, the typical Western diet is characterized by overconsumption and reduced variety, with an excess of refined sugars, salt, and saturated fat (Myles, 2014). At the same time, there is also cultural pressure to conform to ideals of health and beauty that center on images of slim figures.
It is quite evident that women with high weight and shape concerns are more at risk of developing eating disorders — particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia — and are therefore more likely to turn to diet aids. People with high weight and shape concerns are also likely to develop anxiety traits, which can further prompt the use of diet aids as a means of staying in shape. However, the use of diet aids can compromise health and offer only short-term solutions at best.
Alternatives to diet aids do exist, and weight management need not be a cause for concern. Through proper diet and exercise, individuals in this demographic can be taught healthy, sustainable ways to manage their bodies — approaches that also set more realistic expectations for weight loss. However, viewing weight management from a nutritional perspective requires significant training and support, as well as meaningful lifestyle changes that are difficult to achieve alone.
"Diet aids linked to eating disorders and anxiety traits"
"Proper diet and exercise offer realistic, lasting results"
Myles, I. (2014). Fast food fever: Reviewing the impacts of the Western diet on immunity. Nutrition Journal, 108–143.
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