Chronic Dieting: An Uncharted Territory in the Dieting Research Literature

Chronic dieting, a long-term nutritional condition characterized by repeated and unsuccessful attempts to lose weight through voluntary restrictive dietary practices [1,2], has emerged as a significant public health concern in the last decades, paralleling the epidemic rise in obesity. In the United Kingdom, approximately 45% of women and 25% of men may have been on a diet in the past year, while globally an estimated 40% to 60% of the adult population exhibit some form of dieting behaviour [3-5]. Despite its growing prevalence, chronic dieting remains a largely understudied and undefined phenomenon, lacking an in-depth understanding of its underlying behavioural and physiological mechanisms and long-term physical and mental health consequences. This commentary aims to address the critical gaps in the existing research literature and advocate for a more comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing chronic dieting.