Even Happier

"You can initially lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then the weight comes back," said Traci Mann, UCLA associate professor of psychology and lead author of a comprehensive study on the subject. "We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people."

If dieting doesn't work, what does?

“I can’t bear to look myself in the mirror” tells me Laura. “I just hate my body” says Julie in a whisper. Their pain is real, and so is the suffering of millions of women who feel fat compared to society’s standards of beauty. Doctors calls them healthy, man are attracted to them, but they still feel ugly. Both Laura and Julie have tried losing weight by dieting with little success, and have now chosen counseling as a way to improve the relationship with their body. Should they change their appearance? No, they need to change their mindset, correcting the cognitive distortion which don't let them see their beauty, and society should do the same, because curves are beautiful.

Governments have recently tried to push for a healthier image of beauty. Spain has led the way by banning very skinny models from the catwalk.

My hopes in the effects of similar initiatives took a big hit when I saw a television interview of Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana: they mocked the whole concept of hiring healthier-looking models, adding that designers give consumers what they want. Reading between the lines, it was clear then nothing would ever change in D&G image unless there was a financial gain to be made.

Fortunately, at least one Italian brand has made serious money by associating itself with healthier looking models: Elena Miro. If such brand was to became a big success, top designer labels would have to notice, and fashion houses would immediately become more open to non-skinny models.

And what about beauty products? Well, if Dove campaign on “Real Beauty” was to increase sales twofold, you can be sure that other similar marketing campaigns would soon follow.

In short, if we want our society to gradually embrace a healthier ideal of beauty, let’s buy Dove, Elena Miro, and any other product which is advertised by non-skinny women.

In the meantime, if we still want to lose weight, let’s remember that "Eating in moderation is a good idea for everybody, and so is regular exercise," Professor Mann says. " Studies consistently find that people who reported the most exercise also had the most weight loss". Oh well, we didn't need a study to discover that... ;)