Dieting vs. exercise as a means of weight reduction

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Dieting vs. exercise as a means of weight reduction

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of dieting, and exercising as means of weight reduction. This was a self-reporting survey administered to colleges’ representative sample of 1200 female students who use either dieting or exercising as a means of weight reduction. The study was based on the hypothesis that exercising is a more effective method of weight reduction as compared to dieting. Data was analyzed for the 1200 students and associations between dieting and exercising were examined using mixed-model logistic regressions controlling for socio-demographic factors such as age, race, urban vs. non urban residence, and family status. The findings revealed that of the 500 students on exercise programs, only 200 (40%) reported successful weight reduction and maintenance of a healthy weight, while 300 out of 700 (42.8%) on the diet program reported weight loss success. Differences in dietary and exercise outcomes however were insignificantly dependent on the two weight loss-interventions. The findings suggest that further studies should look into how each of the socio-demographic factors influences the choice and outcome of a weight-loss program.

Introduction

Weight reduction is a major concern in the population as various demographic groups prefer to lose weight for a variety of reasons (Waaddegaard & Tove, p. 329). For example, females are likely to reduce weight because of the society’s mentality that slim is beautiful. Males prefer to lose weight and instead gain or tone muscles for the same beauty purposes. The aesthetic value of a lean physique is further enhanced in some professions like modeling, acting, or dancing, stewarding, in which the professional are advised retain a particular body size. Other than beauty, weight reduction is recommended for medical purposes and maintenance of a healthy body in bid to prevent diseases like obesity and diabetes which contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates. Nevertheless, some people prefer to have a reduced weight for personal reasons such as being physically fit or simply gaining confidence among their peers. Whatever the reason, various means are employed in bid to reduce weight and these include dieting, exercising or a diet-exercise combination.

Hypothesis

Participants who use exercising as a means of weight reduction obtain better long term results as compared to those that used dieting.

Problem Statement

Weight reduction is a matter of concern for many people and a variety of methods have been employed for the purpose (Waaddegaard & Tove, p. 330). While some weight loss instructors recommend diet as a better means to reduce weight, others believe that exercising is the best way to have a reduced weight in the long term. Moreover, some people give success stories of how dieting enabled them to reduce weight, while others claim that no satisfying results were obtained. The claims are similar for exercising. Moreover, dieting methods and exercising methods are as diverse as the people in need to reduce weights and what works for some cases does not work for others.

Research Question

What is the most effective weight reduction intervention between dieting and exercising?

Literature Review

Weight reduction refers to the process in which a person triggers physiological processes that can slow down the body’s intake of calories. Some people use exercises as a means to increase the body’s metabolism and burn calories while others prevent the direct calorie intake through dieting. Nevertheless, Waaddegaard and Tove, (p. 330) argues that maintaining a healthy weight loss can be challenging no matter the kind of means that one uses in the weight reduction program. A study by Clarke, et al. (p. 1893) examined the weight loss behaviors among various cohorts of young adults between the age of 19 and 26. The findings showed that young adult women exercised less as compared to young adult males and young women of higher socio-economic status persisted in health eating programs as compared to those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Clarke, et al. (p. 1898) show that the success of a weight reduction program not only depends on the method but on the persistence but this is determined by the social disparities of the individual. Racette, et al. (p. 245) examined the weight, exercise and dietary patterns of college students through a survey. The findings revealed that by the end of the sophomore year, most of the students had gained weight but this was neither associated with dietary nor exercise patterns and thus a further research was recommended. Malinauskas, et al. (p. 1) aimed to discover the dieting and exercising interventions among normal weight, overweight and obese college females and whether they vary in practice and outcome. The findings revealed that 83 percent of the participants believe that dieting was the ultimate way to lose weight while only 19 percent believed that exercising will help them control weight gain. However, Malinauskas, et al. (p. 5) found that most of the female students in all the three weight groups apply practices that contradict the 2005 American dietary guidelines and hence did not obtain expected health outcomes.

Methods

Study design and study population

Self- administered questionnaires were distributed to the study sample in a survey. The researcher developed a 30 item questionnaire specifically for this survey, that borrowed from literature and existing instruments that have adequate and relevant items to aid in answering the research questions. A survey was chosen for this study because it will enable the researcher to gain as much data as possible regarding weight loss attempts.

1200 female students from statewide colleges participated in the survey. The female student sample was chosen because studies show that young adult females participate more in weight loss reduction as compared to their male counterparts (Clarke et al., p.1898). Convenience sampling was be used to classify the responses that will aid in deducing the findings for the study.

Data Collection and Instrument

Data was gathered from questionnaires which were administered by the researcher to the participants. The data collected was a self report of female students who had or were participating in weight reduction programs either through dieting or exercising.

The participants filled in the following information as required of the instrument;-age, the king of weight reduction program, reason for weight reduction, weight before the start of the program and current weight, and the participant’s level of satisfaction with the weight loss program. The instrument was pilot-tested for efficacy and reliability.

Data analysis

Statistical Analysis Software was used to generate two-way results relating to dieting and exercising. The analysis was computed separately for dieting and exercising. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the data. Body mass index before and after the programs was calculated using weight (kg) divided by square of height (m). The t-test was used to compare the continuous variables. Chi-square analysis was used to show the association between the various categorical variables such as urban dwelling and weight loss program. Regression analysis was used to ascertain differences in factors that result to weight reduction in the two groups.

Results

Across the full sample of 1200 representatives, 40 percent of exercising and 42 percent of dieting experienced satisfactory weight reduction. The findings disapprove the hypothesis that dieting is a more effective means of weight reduction as compared to dieting. The correlation between the two methods to weight loss was insignificant. Instead, it was discovered that socio-demographics factors contributed to success in weight reduction and this should form the area for further research. For instance, 82 percent of urban dwellers on exercising experienced satisfactory weight reduction as compared to only 6 percent of non-urban dwellers on exercising programs.

Discussion

The Conflict theory and weight reduction interventions

Participants experience reduction in weight depending with the type of method in each of the two interventions, for example, participants who exercise on the treadmill experienced a faster weight reduction as compared to those who jog on the track. Additionally, participants’ ability to consistently afford a certain diet determines the efficacy of weight loss. There lacks a clarity in determining the most effective method of weight reduction when comparing dieting and exercising as various social disparities come into play.

The hypothesis cannot be accepted because it is difficult to conclude that exercising is the most effective weight loss program without considering social factors. Social factors influence the success of weight reduction regardless of the weight intervention method used and therefore the second hypothesis is accepted. Conflict theory emphasizes inequality of various resources of a social group, and also the expression of differing interests for the same resources (Bartos & Wehr, p. 13). For, instance, the participants in the survey chose the kinds of weight loss programs depending with the social disparities. People in urban places will find it easier to access gyms equipped with modern weight loss facilities as compared to those in the rural location. Moreover, depending with the socio-economic statuses, some diet plans may deem unaffordable to certain individuals even though they intend to reduce weight. The research problem is addressed with the structural inequality assumption of the conflict theory (Slattery, p. 17). The society contains people who may work for the same goals but get different outcomes depending with the social disposition.

Conclusion

Neither dieting nor exercising is superior to the other as a means of weight reduction. Social aspects play a role in the determination of the kind of method that an individual chooses as a weight loss program. Moreover, social inequalities, as stipulated in the conflict theory, determine whether the individual can persist with a chosen method, and also the outcome of the method.

Works Cited

Bartos, Otomar & Wehr Paul Ernest. Using conflict theory. UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 219

Clarke, Philippa, O’Malley, Patrick, Johnstone, Lloyd, Schulenburg, John and Lantz, Paula. Differential trends in weight-related health behaviors among American young adults by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status: 1984-2006,” American Journal of public Health, 2009, vol. 99(10): 1893-1901

Malinauskas, Brenda, Raedeke, Thomas, Aeby, Victor, Smith, Jean & Dallas, Matthew. Dieting practices, weight perceptions, and body composition: a comparison of normal weight, overweight, and obese college females. Nutritional Journal, 2006, 5(11): 1-8

Racette, Susan, Deusinger, Susan, strobe, Michael, Highstein, Gabrielle, and Deusinger, Robert. Weight changes, exercise, and dietary patterns during freshmen and sophomore years of college. Journal of American College Health, 2005, 52(6): 245-251

Slattery, Martin. Key ideas in sociology, 2003, UK: Nelson Thornes

Waaddegaard, Mette and Tove Petersen. Dieting and desire for weight loss among adolescents in Denmark: a questionnaire survey. European Eating Disorder Review, 2002, 10: 329-346