The results must be interpreted cautiously, says co-author Chris Hayward, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. We are not saying dieting per se causes weight gain. Rather, Hayward explained, the analysis merely detected an association between weight gain and dieting that is not yet explained. One possible explanation is that the girls may think they are dieting but aren't actually reducing their eating enough to make a difference. CDC Potential Impact of Poor Nutrition Improving the American diet could extend productive life span and reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes Poor diet and physical inactivity are associated with 300,000 deaths each year, second only to tobacco use.
Obesity contributes to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.