Secrets from the eating lab The science of weight loss, the myth of willpower, and why you should never diet again

Diets don't work. Psychologist Mann, who runs the Health and Eating Lab at the University of Minnesota, convincingly explains why obsessively thinking about food can even cause weight gain. Boring as it sounds, sensible eating is the way to go. But it's tricky. As Mann notes, restaurant servings keep increasing a point she illustrates with a personal anecdote. When she worked at a Baskin-Robbins in high school, scoops were 2.5 ounces. A couple of years later, the ice-cream chain upped the standard size to 4 ounces. So she gives concrete suggestions, such as skipping large plates and introducing small obstacles to overeating. For example, use chopsticks instead of forks to make it harder to quickly chow down. Mann cites study after study to make her case; titles her last chapter, Final Words: Diet Schmiet ; and declares that no single eating plan will ever make the pounds melt away forever. The fragility of willpower and a culture of ubiquitous temptations conspire against the best-laid plans. Her bottom-line recommendation: reach your leanest livable weight. Sold.--Springen, Karen Copyright 2015 Booklist