Monitoring weight and body shape, often in the name of health and feeling better, is so pervasive in our culture that is rarely questioned. It is now the norm, and those who don’t monitor their bodies' are suspected of not caring for themselves. I am concerned that the opposite may be true. That monitoring weight and body shape may not always be a sign that people care for themselves.

We began our careers putting people on diets, as we were taught to do. It did not take long to realize that there was no magic in food restriction. In fact, it became painfully obvious that dieting is fraught with failure, heartache, and deprivation. Simply put, we learned that diets cause problems. To find out how, simply read on.

It can difficult to quit eating when full at first; however, the accompanying negative self-talk only makes it much more difficult. 

We all know the roller coaster Oprah has been on. I was there when she rolled that wheel barrow of 67 pounds of fat onto her stage.  I watched in stunned silence as Oprah carted that fat onto the stage, wondering how she was going to handle the inevitable regain. 

Girls who are unhappy with their body size (or who have parents, coaches, etc., who are unhappy with their body size) may try to manage their weight. But research shows that the vast majority of those who try will then end up fatter.