Dieters often overestimate how healthy they’re actually eating, Harvard study shows

BOSTON — On a diet? There’s a good chance you’re not actually eating as healthy as you think, suggests a new Harvard study.

Dieters actively try to make healthier choices, whether swapping dessert for fruit or snacking on celery with peanut butter instead of chips. But the new research finds people overestimate how much change they’ve made to their overall, with most retaining their usual eating patterns.

“We found that while people generally know that fruits and vegetables are healthy, there may be a disconnect between what researchers and health care professionals consider to be a healthy and balanced diet compared to what the public thinks is a healthy and balanced diet,” says study author Jessica Cheng, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, in a statement. Cheng also practices general internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Almost half of adults living in the United States try to lose weight, with the first step being to modify their diets. People try incorporating more fruits and greens in their meals, which is great for heart health and longevity. The current study evaluated how effective people thought their diet was at losing weight versus the reality of their weight loss journey.

Researchers tracked the diets of 116 adults aged 35 to 38 who were actively trying to shed pounds. All of the participants met with a dietitian to discuss their nutrition and recorded their food…