Is 'Not Eating' Diet Counterproductive After 30? About 70% of Successful Dieters Experienced Setbacks or Rebound

Le Pur Organic, an organic supplement brand operated by feileB Inc., conducted a survey on diet success and failure among 697 men and women who successfully lost weight after turning 30.

In recent years, while information such as "lose weight in a short period" and "lose weight efficiently" abounds on social media, rebound, stress, and physical discomfort caused by excessive dietary restrictions and unreasonable diets have become social issues.

Especially as people age, many find it harder to lose weight compared to when they were younger, or feel unable to continue with unreasonable diet methods.

This survey aims to visualize the sense of success beyond mere numbers, as well as the awareness and efforts leading to diet success, through the real experiences of those who succeeded in dieting after turning 30, and to share hints for a "sustainable diet."

■Survey Results Summary

・Approximately 70% (70.4%) of successful dieters experienced "setbacks or rebound"

・The goal of dieting was "weight (43.3%)", while the feeling of success was more often associated with "changes in appearance (65.1%)"

・Reasons for failure were "backlash/overeating due to hunger or stress (50.7%)" and "dietary restrictions (46.4%)". The limits of a diet based on endurance are also evident.

・The key to success was "dietary management (39.7%)". Sustainable eating habits, rather than extreme restrictions, are crucial.

[Survey Overview]

・Survey name: Fact-finding survey on diets undertaken after age 30

・Survey subjects: 697 men and women who started dieting after age 30 and have experienced success

・Survey period: April 24, 2026 - May 1, 2026

・Survey method: Internet survey

・Source: feileB Inc. (Le Pur Organic)

■Survey Details: The Reality of Successful Dieters Over 30, Seen Through Data

1. Approximately 70% of successful dieters experienced "setbacks or rebound"

Among successful dieters, 70.4% answered that they had experienced failure.

It became clear that many successful dieters have experienced setbacks or rebound at least once while searching for a method that suits them.

2. The "not eating" diet has its limits. Reasons for failure are "stress" and "dietary restrictions"

The most common reason for diet failure was "backlash/overeating due to hunger or stress (25.5%)", followed by "dietary restrictions were too hard to continue (23.2%)".

It became clear that a "diet of endurance" based on unreasonable dietary restrictions leads to setbacks.

3. The key to overcoming failure was "stopping the strain"

The most common method for overcoming failure was "changing to a more manageable pace/method (60.4%)".

Many also mentioned "stopping extreme reduction of food intake (34.5%)", showing a trend that switching to a "sustainable design" rather than excessive restrictions leads to success.

4. The key to diet success is "dietary management"

The most common deciding factor for diet success was "dietary management (39.7%)".

This was followed by "maintaining motivation (33.6%)" and "exercise (20.8%)".

It appears that for diets after age 30, daily eating habits and creating an environment that allows for sustainable continuation are linked to success.

5. The number one trigger for dieting was "changes in appearance"

The most common reason for starting a diet after age 30 was "concern about appearance (body shape, clothes getting tight, etc.) (34.4%)".

6. Ultimately, "appearance" rather than "numbers" becomes the criterion for success

The most important goal during dieting was "weight (43.3%)".

On the other hand, for the criterion of "diet success", "changes in appearance (65.1%)" exceeded "weight loss (59.4%)".

This suggests a shift in awareness, where people initially aim for "weight" but ultimately feel success through "changes in appearance."

7. The method that contributed most to success was "dietary improvement"

The most effective practice among diet methods was "dietary improvement (34.0%)", followed by "aerobic exercise (20.2%)".

It appears that improving "dietary quality" is the key to success, rather than extreme calorie restriction or fasting.

The importance of incorporating appropriate exercise in addition to diet was also evident.

8. The most common period for feeling diet success was "3 to 6 months". About 60% felt changes within six months.

The most common duration for achieving diet success was "3 to less than 6 months (34.0%)", followed by "6 months to less than 1 year (29.3%)".

A timeframe that is neither too short nor too long was a trend among successful dieters.

9. The correct approach to dietary management tends to balance the overall diet rather than focusing on a single method

The dietary management methods that were felt to be most effective were "reducing staple foods like rice and bread (16.6%)", "adjusting food intake/calorie intake (16.6%)", and "reducing or changing snacks (15.1%)".

On the other hand, responses were not heavily skewed towards any specific method, but were distributed across various approaches such as "being conscious of protein", "being conscious of eating times", and "reducing sweets".

It appears that for diets after age 30, avoiding extreme restrictions and balancing the overall diet tends to lead to success in dietary management.

10. About 30% were conscious of iron intake during dieting. Awareness of overall condition, not just weight loss, remains a challenge.

29.9% of respondents answered that they "actively consumed" or "were somewhat conscious of consuming" iron during their diet.

Data shows that over 60% of Japanese women have "latent iron deficiency (hidden anemia)"*, and it has been pointed out that dieting can lead to iron deficiency due to dietary restrictions and nutritional imbalances, affecting health maintenance.

While many people in this survey managed their nutrition for "weight loss," such as "being conscious of protein" and "adjusting calorie intake," only about 30% were conscious of iron intake during their diet.

This suggests that there is still a challenge in raising awareness that includes maintaining health and condition alongside weight loss.

*Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "National Health and Nutrition Survey 2009"

11. The biggest concern during dieting was "whether I can continue." About 50% struggled with continuation.

The most common concern during dieting was "whether I can continue (48.4%)". This was followed by "rebounding (33.9%)" and "weight/body fat not decreasing (28.4%)", showing that many people struggle with anxiety about continuation.

12. Social media is the mainstream source of diet information. Web searches and videos are also common.

The most common source of diet information was "social media (61.8%)", followed by "web media (35.9%)".

The style of gathering information daily through social media and the web, rather than from TV, magazines, or experts, has become mainstream.