NC doctor shares why most diet resolutions fail; how do you sustain it?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – As we say goodbye to the holiday season, some may be looking back at 2025 with a certain feeling of dietary guilt after indulging. So, if your resolution is to lose weight, how can you sustain it?

“Holidays are naturally a time that many of us indulge and celebrate,” said Dr. Ritu Saluja-Sharma, North Carolina physician in emergency and lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Saluja-Sharma said it can actually be healthy to indulge, as long as its with the right foods.

“Most of the time if we’re eating the foods that are going to align with our health then we don’t have to feel guilty on holidays or vacations if we’re over-indulging a bit,” she said.

With the new year, comes new resolutions and many of which end up centering around diet and weight loss. According to a 2024 Pew Research study, 30% of Americans made resolutions last year and 79 percent of those resolutions concerned their health.

While nearly half had admitted to breaking it by the end of the month.

Why is that? Dr. Saluja-Sharma said our food system doesn’t help.

“In our food system, most of our ultra-processed food is intentionally designed so that its hyperpalatable and it’s hard to stop,” she said.

Some believe they have the will power to fight against their cravings and stick to a strict diet, but Dr. Saluja-Sharma said that method is fleeting.

“So guilt and feeling restricted and deprived really should have no place in making positive lifestyle and diet changes,” she said.

For those wanting to keep their resolutions, she said dieting can even mean adding more food to your plate.

“So not saying that you need to overhaul everything that you’re eating but thinking about your meals and maybe trying to add more protein add healthy fats, eating more fiber,” she said.

Dr. Saluja-Sharma said its important to add more nutrient-rich food to support both brain and body health, also walking after a meal.

“Even 10 or 15 minutes can really help to balance your blood sugar and insulin levels and improve your metabolic health,” she said.

Dr. Saluja-Sharma said dieting should be about what we gain, rather than what we have to deny ourselves.

“When we actually realize that when we’re eating healthier and moving more and sleeping better that we are feeling better, then, that actually should be the driver not trying to reduce the number on the scale,” she said.

Dr. Saluja-Sharma is the author of a book series about how parents can effectively diet while keeping their little ones in mind. Click here for more.