For the vast majority of people, dieting just doesn’t work. It fails because of our physiology; the body plays a game of sabotage by lowering its metabolism or otherwise undercutting our efforts. It fails because life intervenes, with layoffs or new babies or sick parents. It fails because no amount of willpower can be sustained forever. And it fails because when that willpower is working for the dieter, the price that’s being paid is really high. Successful dieting ruins your relationship to eating, Mann said—unless you enjoy seeing all food as your enemy.
