女人：将节食进行到底！

 　　For many women struggling to keep slim, dieting can seem to last a lifetime.

　　Or to be more precise, 31 years.

　　For researchers have found that is how long the average woman spends on a diet over the course of her life.

　　According to a new report, British women spend an average of six months a year counting the calories and more than a fifth are on a permanent diet throughout their lifetime in a seemingly never-ending quest for the perfect figure.

　　But they aren't the only ones waging a constant fight against the flab.

　　The average adult male spends 28 years slimming, the poll has revealed.

　　It found that over a tenth of the UK population is currently dieting in a bid to shed the pounds after feasting on festive¹ treats over the Christmas period.

　　But despite best intentions, three quarters of those who began their New Year with the firm resolution to lose weight give up by the end of the week.

　　The average diet lasts 5.5 weeks, with the post-Christmas fast being even shorter at just three weeks.

　　Half of slimmers throw in the towel due to lack of willpower, while a quarter of respondents said that they give up because their strict diet regime leaves them moody² or depressed³.

　　The most determined⁴ of dieters are aged⁵ between 45 and 64, with almost a quarter spending up to a year slimming.

　　In comparison, those aged between 18 and 24 are more likely to be yo-yo dieters, with a fifth giving up within a month.

　　The survey of 1,446 of men and women revealed that nearly two thirds of the UK population are unhappy with their body and feel that being thinner would make them happier.

　　For women, looks are more important, with over half reporting that they diet to wear fashionable clothes and a third of those surveyed said they watched their weight in a bid to feel more attractive.

　　But in comparison, men are more focused on their long-term well-being⁶, with over a third saying they wanted to lose weight to be more healthy.

　　对于很多想保持苗条身材的女性来说，节食可能是件一辈子的事。

　　确切点说，是31年。

　　研究人员日前发现，普通女性一生花在节食上的时间长达31年。

　　一项最新报告显示，英国女性平均一年中有半年的时间在节食减肥，而超过五分之一的女性为了追求完美身材，节食几乎成了她们一生的“事业”。

　　然而，她们并不是这场“减肥持久战”的唯一“战士”。

　　调查显示，普通成年男性一生中花在减肥上的时间长达28年。

　　调查发现，在圣诞节“胡吃海喝”了一通后，十分之一以上的英国人现在正在节食。

　　虽然出发点很好，但其中四分之三的人坚持不了几天就放弃了，早忘了他们的新年“誓言”。

　　普通节食一般持续五周半，而圣诞之后的节食时间更短，只有三周半。

　　有一半的节食者因缺乏毅力而半途而废，四分之一的受访者说他们之所以放弃是因为过于严格的饮食“规定”让他们情绪烦躁、心情低落。

　　调查显示，45岁至64岁之间的节食者意志最坚定，其中近四分之一的人坚持了一年。 相比之下，18至24岁之间的节食者最容易动摇，其中五分之一的人坚持不到一个月就放弃了。

　　这项共有1446名男女参加的调查显示，近三分之二的英国人对自己的身材不满意，他们希望自己能能更苗条一些。

　　对于女性来说，外表“重于一切”，超过一半的受访女性说她们减肥是为了能穿时髦的衣服，另有三分之一的受访女性说减肥是为了让自己更有魅力。

　　相比之下，男性则更为注重长期健康，超过三分之一的受访男性说他们减肥为了使自己更加健康。

　　Vocabulary:

　　throw in a towel : 拳击用语，比喻“认输”（例如：I am ready to throw in a towel.我认输了。）

　　yo-yo : to undergo frequent abrupt shifts or reversals（优柔寡断；犹豫不决）

1 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

2 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

3 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

6 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。