ABSTRACT
Dieting to lose weight has become the norm for many people in America and other Westernized nations (Bish et al., 2005; Kruger, Galuska, Serdula, & Jones, 2004). Whether to improve their health or to obtain the look of the latest fashion model, cutting calories, fat, carbohydrates—or all of the above—is now the common denominator among friends and strangers. Indeed, dieting has turned into a national mentality in the United States, supported by the media and medical profession alike. In their efforts to lose weight, most Americans report attempting to do so on their own (Klesges, Mizes, & Klesges, 1987). Thus, sales of self-help books on dieting and weight loss are at an all-time high, with approximately $33 billion spent annually on various weight loss goods and services (Kruger et al., 2004).
