Women who accept their bodies, flaws and all, are more likely to eat healthily or intuitively, new research shows. This suggests that women's typical reasons for dieting-- dissatisfaction with their bodies -- may backfire.

The average American woman is 5'4", weighs 140 lbs, and wears a size 14 dress. The "ideal" woman--portrayed by models, Miss America, Barbie dolls, and screen actresses--is 5'7", weighs 100 lbs, and wears a size 8. One-third of all American women wear a size 16 or larger. 75% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. 50% of American women are on a diet at any one time. Between 90% and 99% of reducing diets fail to produce permanent weight loss. Two-thirds of dieters regain the weight within one year. Virtually all regain it within five years. The diet industry (diet foods, diet programs, diet drugs, etc.) takes in over $40 billion each year, and is still growing. Quick-weight-loss schemes are among the most common consumer frauds, and diet programs have the highest customer dissatisfaction of any service industry. A recent survey found only 30 percent of 250 randomly chosen wo

In years past, anyone who wore a size 14 or larger might have been viewed as old, matronly and downtrodden. But, today, when one out of every three American women falls into this category, the amply built can be found sporting the jazziest clothes, dating the hottest hunks succeeding in virtually every line of work. Members of this growing group are everywhere -- on TV, in film, in recording studios and in boardrooms. Living Single's Kim Coles and Queen Latifah are beautiful big women who continue to make significant strides. So are Jackie Harry of Sister, Sister and actress Loretta Devine of Waiting To Exhale fame, just to name a few. Others in this diverse and expansive group include legal correspondent Star Jones and gospel singer Vanessa Bell Armstrong.