According to a British study, the average diet lasts just five weeks, two days, and 43 minutes. Sixteen percent quit within two weeks, while one in seven women sticks with it for 13 weeks.
The Challenges of Dieting
Dieting is tough for many. Hunger derails one in six women. Forty-two percent give in to chocolate cravings, 30 percent feel depressed, and family demands—like cooking separate meals—add extra strain.
Extreme Tactics to Stay on Track
To persevere, some resort to unconventional strategies: eating in the garden gazebo to avoid family dinners, buying clothes a size too small, padlocking closets, or turning in early.
2.7 Diets Per Year
Short-lived efforts mean women average 2.7 diets annually, typically starting at age 26.
Common Triggers
Sparks for dieting include unflattering photos, divorce, being the heaviest at work, a dull sex life, or suspicions of a partner's affair.
Can You Maintain a Diet?
