Rebecca,

You are spot on. One value of this study is that it looked at one year, but you are right: Dieting for weight loss is a generally losing proposition. On the other hand, avoiding significant weight gain with physical activity (such as walking), good nutrition (ugh, I say to the overly processed foods thrown at us in America by food producers; tasty and addictive), adequate sleep... now we're talking. Thank you for framing this debate in the larger context. Our bodies are not designed for weight loss. For virtually none of us, they work long-term (I am an exception, but I am ultra-disciplined in much of what I do).

With appreciation,

Michael