The 9-Inch Diet

Both, because one contributes to the other. We are responsible for our own choices, but I think some--not all, but some--of that responsibility is mitigated because we are not given truly appropriate information. We are sold marketing ploys, and unless we go dig around, sometimes just a little and sometimes a lot, we do not have the appropriate information to understand what we are really being sold.

I'm curious to know what's in the rest of the book, because "use a smaller plate" doesn't exactly require a tome...

the only person who can make the choice about what you should eat, is yourself. It seems rediculous to me that people can accept that the "media" convinces them to eat fast food. how about "i'm too lazy right now, and i really dont care", as the correct reason people get obese. i believe that in this century, because of all the awareness about weight and eating right, the reason why folks are so heavy is sheer ignorance. they just lack the will power associated with trying to maintain a healthy life style. i'm sure many fit individuals, including myself, crave fattening foods more than 2-3 times a day- somehow we stay on track. what do you call that? the power of choice! if someone could be so easily persuaded with pictures of perfectly cooked burgers and flawless buns, then they should just as easily be persuaded to eat more healthy things. its just rediculous to blame commercials.

There is a third culprit: the regulatory bodies. They are not showing leadership on issues of nutrition and this is leading consumers to make less informed choices and allowing marketers to exploit opportunities that are not in the consumer's best interest. Until they take a more robust position and stop pandering to corporate concerns and exercising a misguided 'freedom of choice' doctrine, things will get no better.

A nine-inch nail through the hand that picks up the greaseburger will also work to decrease caloric intake. It will also leave a longer lasting impression than a nine-inch plate.

This sounds like a bad gimmick.

As for the cause of obesity, the simple answer is that people eat too much. And there are lots of reasons why people eat too much - we live in an obesogenic environment with an abundance of cheap, calorie rich foods at hand after having evolved in environments that were prone to food scarcity. Overeating in environments where you might suffer lean times ahead was a way of maximizing your chances of survival. Overeating in an environment where there are never any lean times is a way to get fat. The problem is a lot bigger than simply fast food marketers and uninformed consumers.

Ultimately everyone is responsible for their actions. However, I believe anyone or any organization that influences masses has a responsibility on a higher level. I may be responsible from my own eating habits but the media promoting unhealthy products and eating habits relentlessly is as responsible for the obesity issue in this nation as the individuals of with bad eating habits.

As for this book; this is like getting private lessons from a conman not to get conned. If it wasn't for people like the writers of this book, we wouldn't have needed this book in the first place.

What may have started with complicated psychological reasons eventually becomes an addiction with many factors stacked against the obese person improving their situation. The real answer lies in treating the problem as an addiction, and society changing to be more helpful with obesogenic factors, even if it means losing some of the freedoms to do what ever we want to ourselves.

This diet doesn't seem like anything new. It's been proven over and over again that people tend to eat whatever is set before them. Using a smaller plate - means smaller portions. It's just a built in portion control.

I alway have to wonder though - are people really overweight because they overeat at meals - or is it all the snacking in between, and the habit of going fast food?

It's definitely an interesting premise. Although fast-food marketing has some blame, I tend to believe that personal choice should have a greater influence, but that is more just a general assumption. I definitely think it is possible that advertising has a greater effect than I realize.

Fast food advertisements use a lot of psychological manipulation that happens without us being fully aware. Many people are just ignorant to these tactics and continue to watch commercials and hear ads on the radio which influence them.

My suggestion...avoid ads and signs as much as possible and think for yourself!

They're taking Wansink and marketing it.

Try to open a restaurant using 9-inch plates. A good recipe for bankruptcy.

Connie Gutterson in her Sonoma Diet used the plate trick. She has a good program. I bet other progams use it, too.

The standard plate at my house is 11 inch diameter. We just got rid of some larger plates that didn't fit well in the dishwasher, they were so big. No wonder they were on sale.

-Steve

I like the idea of simply using small plates, but if you're having a hardcore craving for some pizza, I'd guess you'd probably stack your food really high or fill the plate up more than once. Kinda defeats the whole purpose.

I think we are responsible for our own food choices as well and we can make better choices by educating ourselves. I think it's a cop out when people say that there are those that just don't know and are not informed, well do something about it then! If everyone could have their hand held through life everything would be just dandy but the reality is the consumer has to always assume the worst. If it looks or sounds to good to be true it usually is. This 9-inch diet plan is just another gimmick in my opinion, someone is just looking to capitalize on ignorant people. There is no magic pill or secret diet solution for losing weight. Staying in good health should be a way of life and then you wouldn't have to get sucked in to all the fads that are out there because you wouldn't have issues weight to begin with.

Nine inch plate, stacked 18 inches high. I'm on to the system!

Take the 9-inch plate and then replaces the fork and spoon with chopsticks, that will really slow you down.

This goes along the same lines as the No-S Diet which was designed by a computer engineer. I actually like the concept of his diet. No Snacks, No Sweets, No Seconds. What fits on your plate is it.

Fast food marketing and Consumer choices are both making people fat. We already have a taste for fast food, and seeing it advertised constantly on TV and magazines and radio make us desire it even more. The best thing to do is be aware of the advertisement and to discipline ourselves to eat healthier and less food.

If anyone can do that successfully, I'd sure like to know! :D