Read the text carefully, then answer the questions according to the text.
Get Fat by Dieting
A report revealed that if a person follows one of the many ‘Get Thin Quickly’ diets which have been invented by ‘experts’ all around the world, this person is more likely to gain weight than lose it in the longer term.
A study has been recently conducted by Pr. Marianne Cluze of Arizona Statewide University over six months on 500 people who undertook a specialized dieting program. The participants selected their choice of diets from a list taken from published dieting books. In the beginning of the dieting period, the participants were weighed. Of the 500 volunteers, 400 were considered to be overweight whereas the remaining ones were within the normal limits for their heights, gender and age. They were then all weighed at periods throughout the six months and, a journal was kept on their eating habits during that time.
At the end of the research period, it was found that 70% of all participants had actually increased their weight while 50% of the 100 remaining ones, who had not been overweight when they started the study, had experienced a gain in weight. This was not a surprising finding for Professor Cluze, who explained the phenomenon that when a person goes on a diet that promotes fast weight loss, there is usually a reduction in the amount of bodily muscle. As the muscle is lost, the amount of energy required by that person is also reduced. This means that the dieter doesn’t need to eat as much as before in order to keep the same weight. If he continues to eat less, he will, therefore, lose more muscle and need even less food.
In addition, physical exercise will become more difficult because of the loss of muscle power. As a result, dieters will quickly lose weight at first. Eating normally again they will put on more weight as their body requires less food to feed the muscles.
So it seems that Pr. Cluze’s research has demonstrated that ‘Get Thin Quickly’ diets have the opposite effect of that desired. This might be one reason why the number of overweight people in developed countries is increasing. Finally, it is thought, that instead of losing a lot of weight in a short space of time, one should try slowing the pace, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
1 What was the purpose of Pr. Cluze’s study?
2 Why do people need less food after having started a ‘get thin quickly’ diet?
3 What approach or advice to dieting the article recommend?
Answer
1. Pr. Cluze’s research has demonstrated that ‘Get Thin Quickly’ diets have the opposite effect of that desired.
2. When a person goes on a diet that promotes fast weight loss, there is usually a reduction in the amount of bodily muscle. As the muscle is lost, the amount of energy required by that person is also reduced. This means that the dieter doesn’t need to eat as much as before in order to keep the same weight. If he continues to eat less, he will, therefore, lose more muscle and need even less food.
3. Instead of losing a lot of weight in a short space of time, one should try slowing the pace, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
Read the statements, then decide whether they are ‘true’ or ‘false’.
4 Pr. Cluze is a researcher working in Arizona Statewide university.
5 The dieting program lasted for more than six months.
6 The 500 participants were all considered as being overweight
7 Half of those who were in their normal limits in the beginning gained weight
8 When losing muscle power, physical activity will be difficult for dieters
9 Developing countries witness an increase in overweight people
Answer
4. true 5. true 6. false 7. true 8. true 9. true
