Being on a diet is so common that we take it as a simple choice to lose weight. Occasionally it is, but in fact it usually involves much more. If we scratch the surface, we find out that for those who have been on and off many diets throughout their life, the decision to try to lose weight again is usually part of a much larger life transition and improvement agenda.

"I am going through the menopause and don't want to go into the next part of my life as a heavy person."

"I want to start having fun in life."

"I'm going through a divorce."

"I have lost someone dear to me and it's time to take care of myself."

These are all common reasons people give for wanting to lose weight. If we take a second to think about these statements, dieting obviously involves much more than simply a desire to slim down.

What Dieters Have In Common
Last year we did an internet survey of 7500 people who were seeking diet information. We asked them about the stress in their life and how they felt about their life. The survey results, along with what I've seen in my work with thousands of dieters, has convinced me that there is definitely a strong relationship between being overweight and depression and that going on a diet for roughly two thirds of the serious dieters is part of their attempt to do something positive about their life, and their depression.

Sixty-nine percent of the dieters we surveyed said they were not having enough day-to-day fun in their lives and an equal number felt they were not taking care of their own interests. And roughly the same percent said they were rarely free from doubts and fears. This is quite an astounding set of facts. It shows quite clearly that dieters are seeking more in their life than to just lose a few pounds. They are on a mission to make some changes in their life so they can make themselves feel better. About two thirds of the dieters we surveyed also said they felt stuck in their life, that they weren't satisfied with their friends and that they didn't like the way they spent their leisure time. Dieting for these dieters is part of doing something about their life.

Around fifty percent of the dieting population we surveyed thought they were going through a major life transition and did not think that their future looked bright. One of the keys to being happy is to be able to look forward to a good future. When the future looks dark or gloomy or uncertain, a depressed feeling always comes into play and colors everything, including a downgrading of one's accomplishment or past joys. In fact when you look at these survey results, it's easy to conclude that there is some degree of depression at work and that dieting is tied to an effort to relieve that depression.