July 28, 2010 | 1 minute read

Getting to, and staying, a healthy weight is one of the most important ways to prevent cancer but the quest to lose weight is not easy. Take, for example, the recent findings of a survey from a British company.

British women last an average of only 19 days on a diet. And with about three diet attempts yearly, dieting costs add up to more than $39,300 (£25,233) over the course of a lifetime.

The Engage Mutual survey of 3,000 women showed that cost of dieting includes gym memberships, health magazines, and exercise clothes. But by far, food accounts for the heft of the diet bill: Over the course of the 19-day diet, women spend an extra $67 (£43) on food, and $42 (£27) on branded slimming foods.

The top temptations that led to women breaking their diet were chocolate, crisps, wine and pizza.

Losing weight and staying at a healthy weight is all about making lifestyle changes that last. For help transitioning to a healthier eating pattern, take a look at AICR’s New American Plate, which focuses on portion and proportion.

So for dieters, what are your dieting downfalls? Ice Cream? Pasta? And what is a crisp anyways?