THE STEP DIET BOOK: A REVIEW BY DR. SUSAN FINN, PHD, RD, LD, FADA CHAIR OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR FITNESS AND NUTRITION

By James O. Hill, John C. Peters and Bonnie T. Jortberg

Don’t let the title fool you – this is not really a “diet” book. Doctor Hill’s book is a concise manual for getting your weight under control by making small lifestyle changes, primarily by walking more everyday. The book even comes packaged with a pedometer.

Millions of Americans are concerned about overweight and obesity, and many of the solutions featured on bookshelves and TV focus almost entirely on diet – eating only certain types of foods, in certain quantities, at certain times of the day, etc.

Hill’s book is entirely different, particularly in that it does not promise readers rapid weight loss. A co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry and an advisor on obesity to the National Institutes of Health, Hill argues persuasively for a different approach. Hill doesn’t tell you what to eat or how much to eat. Hill argues that most diets ultimately fail because they provide only a temporary solution, not a permanent way to change lifestyle habits.

The key to losing weight under this plan is to make some simple changes that you can live with, set reasonable goals for yourself, and walk more. The thinking behind the Step Diet is based on the core concept of energy balance – if you want to lose weight, the calories you consume cannot exceed the calories you burn through metabolism and activity. Hill explains that if you increase your daily energy expenditure by adding steps, while cutting back on snacks and overeating, you cannot help but lose weight.

In contrast to many diet books, Hill takes a long-term view. This plan isn’t about rapidly losing a few pounds then going back to your old ways and regaining the weight. Most other diets fail precisely because they only offer a temporary solution. This plan is about making changes to your lifestyle that you can live with for good.

All in all, the Step Diet Book represents an easy to follow, life-long weight management program that can help those struggling with an overweight or obesity problem to overcome it. It doesn’t promise quick solutions, but it does provide answers grounded in research and a straightforward plan for incorporating more exercise into your daily life.