That viral "95% of diets fail" stat is older than my grandma and way more misleading

I keep seeing this number everywhere. News articles, influencers, even some doctors toss it around like fact. But I actually dug into where it comes from last week. It's from a single 1959 study of like 100 people at a hospital. And the criteria for "failed" was losing 20 pounds and keeping it off for 2 years. That's it. No adjustments for who the study was on or what diets they tried. Why does nobody mention the study was done on mostly male inpatients with specific health conditions? That stat needs a massive asterisk or we're all just repeating bad data. Has anyone else looked into the actual source of a viral number and found it way flimsier than it sounds?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry_ross6d ago

Why does this stat bug you so much? The fact that it's been around since 1959 actually makes it more credible, not less. That study has been cited for over 60 years because the basic finding keeps getting replicated. Nobody's saying every single person fails every single diet. The point is that long term, most people regain the weight. I've seen it happen to friends and family over and over. They lose 30 pounds, feel great for six months, then slowly put it back on. The 95% number might not be perfect but it's in the right ballpark. We're kidding ourselves if we think diets work for most people in the long run.

nancy_king296d agoOG Member

You're right that "in the right ballpark" is probably the most honest way to put it. I've watched my sister lose and regain the same 50 pounds three times now. Each time she swears this diet is different, and each time it just doesn't stick. The research keeps showing the same pattern because our bodies fight back against weight loss. It's not about willpower or picking the right plan. The whole diet industry is built on selling us hope, not results.

simon_carr6d ago

You know what, @henry_ross, you’re totally right and I’ve seen the same thing play out. My cousin lost 40 pounds on keto a few years back, looked amazing, then within a year he was back to his old weight plus some. It’s the cycle I’ve watched happen with like half my friends who try any popular diet. That 95% number might have shaky roots, but in my experience it’s not far off. The real issue is these quick fix plans don’t teach you how to eat for life, you know?