146. Reading Skills Comprehension: Crash Dieting

CRASH DIETING

Read the passage and answer the following questions:-

Crash dieting may help you lose weight, in the short term, but, ultimately it can hinder weight loss in the long term, as most of the weight you have lost with crash dieting will bounce back, meaning you will gain all the weight that you have lost and more. Crash dieting not only removes fat but also lean muscle and tissue. Contrary to the belief of many who start this diet, this form of dieting is neither healthy nor successful in achieving long-term weight loss as it induces the slowing down of the body’s metabolic rate—the body seeks to conserve every calorie and so weight loss becomes increasingly difficult. Metabolic rate is the number of calories your body needs to maintain its regular activities. This means your body will need fewer calories than it did previously, making weight gain more likely once you stop dieting.

Most crash diets involve eating low-calorie foods for several weeks or eating the same food or food groups for several weeks. Even if you’re only trying the diet for a week or two, eating such a strict diet of the same foods can cause nutritional deficiencies. Eliminating one or more food groups will not provide you with adequate, long-term nutrition. Nutritional deficiencies such as this can have multiple immediate side effects such as haggard look, dark circles under eyes, dull skin, sloppy posture and less stamina.

This is also why exercise is recommended in any weight loss plan to build muscle and maintain your metabolic rate. Again common mistakes which are observed with exercise are joining the gym only till the New Year so that you can lose weight and once the party is over, the party for not exercising continues. On the other hand, we have to make New Year resolutions and with the gym memberships which are so tempting during the New Year, take up annual memberships, which is not bad. What is bad is to break the resolution. It is good to take up an exercise programme and to make up a resolution about exercise, provided you do not break your resolution and continue exercising year long. What is important is consistency.                                                  

(1)(a) What harms does crash dieting do? Mention any two.                   

 (b) There is a basic flaw in diet plans. What is it?                                         

 (c) Why is exercise important?                                                                        

 (d) What is the writer’s view of the gym membership?                                    

 (2) Choose the words which are closest in meaning to the words given below by selecting the most appropriate options :

(a) Hinder

(i) assist (ii) obstruct (iii) give (iv) save                                                            

(b) Induces

(i) helps (ii) reduces (iii) triggers (iv) increases                                              

(c) Adequate

(i) sufficient (ii) less (iii) high (iv) unequal                                                    

 (d) Recommended

 (i) given (ii) ordered (iii) forced (iv) suggested                                            

 Answers :

 (1) (a) Two harmful effects of crash dieting are :

(i) It not only removes fat, but also lean muscle and tissue.

 (ii) It slows down the body’s metabolic rate.

 (b) The basic flaw in weight-loss diet plans is that it will cause nutritional deficiencies with immediate side effects such as haggard look, dark circles, dull skin, sloppy posture and less stamina.

(c) Exercise is important to build muscle and maintain one’s metabolic rate, while simultaneously promoting weight loss.

(d) The author believes that gym memberships must be taken up on an annual basis instead of only for the New Year party.

(2) (a) (ii) obstruct (b) (iii) triggers (c) (i) sufficient (d) (iv) suggested

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