In this assignment I am going to discuss Diet, it's types, the Merits and Demerits of Overeating and

Undereating. And I will further talk about how a counsellor can approach a scenario of Overeating and
Undereating.

What is Diet?

In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. The word diet often
implies the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management reasons – with the two
often being related.

Types of Diets

People diet for all types of reasons as there are no shortage of reasons for wanting to live a healthier
life. There are also a wide variety of options when it comes to selecting a diet that might work for you.
Here is a closer look at some of the different types of diets that people are using all around the world.

The Paleo Diet: This is a natural way of eating, one that almost abandons all intake of sugar. The only
sugar in a Paleo diet comes from fruit. However, abandoning sugar is not the only stipulation. Processed
foods and grains are also eliminated from the Paleo diet. The fewer number of carbohydrates in your
system leads to a decreased amount of glucose. So your system will then begin to use fat as its fuel
source. In a Paleo diet, dairy is also eliminated. So what can be eaten? A Paleo diet consists of fish, fowl,
vegetables, fruits, nuts, oils, sweet potatoes, eggs and meat, so long as that meat is grass-fed and not
grain-fed.

The Blood Type Diet: Some doctors have started to research diets that coincide with particular blood
types. The premise of these diets attempts to match people with their common dietary needs based on
their blood type. For example, individuals with type O blood are recommended to eat lots of food that
are high in protein. In order to lose weight, spinach, red meat, seafood and broccoli are suggested while
dairy should be avoided. Those with type A blood are recommended to avoid meat and place an
emphasis on turkey, tofu, and fruit while weight loss is contingent on eating a diet that consists primarily
of soy, seafood and vegetables. Individuals with type B and AB blood also have their own dietary
restrictions and recommendations.

The Vegan Diet: This diet is a form of a vegetarian diet as it eliminates meat and animal products. One
of the primary effects of this diet is that it reduces the intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. It takes
some planning, but if a vegan diet is rationed out properly, it can have many positive effects. Studies
have proven that those who practice a vegan diet minimize their overall risk of coronary heart disease,
obesity and high blood pressure. To compensate for a lack of meat, vegans must find a way to
incorporate more sources of protein and vitamin B-12 into their diets.

The South Beach Diet: This diet was first introduced in 2003 and is based on the premise of changing
one’s overall eating habits by balancing out one’s everyday diet. Certain carbohydrates are completely
avoided. It does not eliminate carbohydrates altogether, but aims to educate dieters on which carbs to
always avoid. This often leads to developing a healthy way of eating so that it will be sustainable for the
rest of people’s lives. The diet includes a selection of healthy fats, lean protein, as well as good carbs.

The Mediterranean Diet: This is another kind of vegetable-heavy diet that avoids a lot of meat, but does
not eliminate it altogether. This diet has been proven to help with depression, in addition to controlling
blood sugar levels and helping with weight loss. The Mediterranean diet recommends the use of oil as
much as possible and that means as an alternative to butter, salad dressings or marinades. It also
emphasizes adding vegetables to each meal and favors fish over chicken. Whole grains, nuts and herbs
are also used in larger amounts.

Raw Food Diet: This is a diet that places a premium on eating uncooked and unprocessed foods. The
diet eliminates the intake of any foods that have been pasteurized or produced with any kind of
synthetics or additives. The diet is intended to create a surge in energy, a decrease in inflammation,
while also lowering the number of carcinogens in one’s diet.

Advantages Of Undereating include these points:

One of the most well-known merit of undereating is weight loss. When combined with regular exercise,
undereating can lead to noticeable improvements in your weight and figure.

Additionally, undereating may help shield a person from disease. Eating less food plays a significant role
in building immunity, equipping the body to fight off certain age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s
and dementia.

Undereating may also have benefits for the muscle strength. As you age, you often experience a decline
in your muscle mass and function. However, by undereating, you may help to delay this process.

The Demerits of undereating include the following points:

Osteoporosis and bone fractures, infertility, developmental problems, a weakened immune system,
malnutrition, increased risk of surgical complications, anemia and chronic fatigue. These problems may
be experienced if there is lack of enough food intake.

The merits of overeating are soothing, feels good, you can eat what you want, you don't need to feel
difficult emotions, instant relief and no food diaries.

The Demerits of overeating include the following points:

May promote excess body fat, May disrupt hunger regulation, May increase disease risk, May impair
brain function, May make you nauseous, May cause excessive gas and bloating and finally May make
you sleepy.

The following content is an approach a counsellor may take when presented a scenario of Overeating
and Undereating. He or She —
Should not use shame: Shame may make your loved one eat healthy (or restrict their intake) in front of
you, but it doesn’t create long-term change. If fact, shame is likely to promote exactly the behaviors you
hope to help your loved one avoid.

Do not force the issue: When approaching the issue of weight, give your clients lots of space. If they do
not want to discuss their weight with you, let the issue go. Discussing one’s weight is an extremely
personal and sensitive matter. It might need to be done slowly, over time.

Do not frame the discussion around weight and food: Keep the discussion focused on health. Phrases
that focus on the person’s body or eating habits can make your clients feel defensive.

Do not offer "helpful" weight loss hints: This is a hard one, especially if you yourself have lost weight.
Remember, however, that your client likely knows standard weight loss strategies quite well—and
besides, the issue is likely more complex than diet and exercise hints. Stick to speaking about your love
and concern for him or her personally. Do not focus on how he or she can—or should—reach the goal.

Do not monitor their food or exercise: Try not to comment on your client's weight-sensitive behaviors—
good or bad! This may seem counter-intuitive, but any specific comments about behavior set up a
dynamic in which you are "the watchdog."

Do not judge: This includes pointing out how society judges people of extreme weight.

Do remember that your clients may already feel ashamed: Even if your client jokes openly about their
weight, this does not mean they are comfortable with their body. Be sensitive and thoughtful with your
words and your approach. This subject matter can be very painful and shame-inducing.

Do speak about health and feelings.

Do speak with love and respect.

Do use empathy: Try to think about an area of your own life in which you are especially touchy—maybe
it’s your education, how you spend your money, or your difficult relationships.

Do look beyond fault: Though your client’s weight may seem to you like a simple issue of motivation
and self-control, it may not be. Your clients may have an eating disorder or a physical condition that's
causing them to gain or lose weight, and may need professional help to assist in their path to health. Try
to avoid appearing to assign blame and fault by instead framing your discussion in terms of support and
help.

In conclusion, Effective eating disorders treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach. Counselors, like
all people, can have strong biases in the areas of eating, weight, body image and the importance of
appearance. We have to be careful about imposing these values on our clients.

REFERENCES
“Assessment and diagnosis of eating disorders” by Kelly C. Berg and Carol B. Peterson (in Eating
Disorders and Obesity: A Counselor’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment, edited by Laura H. Choate,
American Counseling Association, 2013)

American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders
(2010)

Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Eating Disorders” by Laura H. Choate (in The Cambridge Handbook of
Applied Psychological Ethics, edited by Mark M. Leach and Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel, Cambridge
University Press, 2018)

“Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with eating
disorders” by James Lock, Maria C. La Via and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Committee on Quality Issues, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.