Tightening the Waist Band: Is better regulation needed to reduce harmful practices of the diet industry?

This research aims to provide the first detailed analysis of the harms of the diet-industry and corporate weight-loss companies and the role of corporate structures and regulation in both perpetuating and preventing harm to women's health and wellbeing. Focusing on regulation and regulatory processes, the research will consider the role of regulation for reducing harmful practices of the 'diet' industry.

The diet-industry - a term that covers the range of companies, products, and services that promote weight-loss - has developed specialised marketing of varying weight-loss diets, each tailored to convince women that their programme is most worth their time and money. The problem with these easily accessible diet programmes is, to be successful, they must each appear unique. This often involves practices that make people reliant on paid memberships in order to 'correctly' apply the plan. Existing research suggests that there is little or ineffective regulation around advice in relation to dieting, and this has a detrimental impact, especially on women. Therefore, this research will examine the corporate structures and regulatory processes that underpin the diet-industry and to what extent women's health and well-being is prioritised.

Using a qualitative, mixed-methods approach, this research will apply methods and techniques to generate new and cutting-edge knowledge advancements in this area. Ultimately, through combining an analysis of regulation and regulatory processes, and lived-experiences of women who have used diet-industry services, the research intends to contribute to positive changes in women's experiences around weight-loss, as well as their health and wellbeing.