Radical diets are hard for the body to absorb, and it generally stores each one as fat when people suddenly cut their intake. This is a normal reaction, and it is designed to keep people alive through times of fasting. For those who want to lose weight, calorie considerations in what they eat are usually more important that limiting their overall intake. Changing the choices they make should give them a better chance to lose weight without the body retaining fat.
Each food today has its own calorie count, and it is easy enough to find them. There are plenty of online sites that list everything from apples to zucchini, so finding out what foods have fewer calories when consumed should not be an issue for the modern dieter. There are even sites where people can learn the healthiest way to prepare their food for maximum nutrition without adding too many more calories in the process.
Taking advantage of the information available online is a single component of dieting, and it should be combined with changing the overall lifestyle of the person who wants a healthier body. They will need to find ways to create good eating habits, so finding healthy foods they really like should be another component. If they find they would rather munch on raw vegetables instead of chips, they are ahead of the game without excess dieting that will have the opposite effect they want to achieve.
It can be difficult to make large changes in habits that have been around for a lifetime, so taking it one small step at a time might be the best way to tackle dieting. Even if a person only substitutes on item a month, they may begin to see their excess weight fall off without feeling deprived. This is a good way to create a fitter lifestyle while letting the body have the food it needs to keep going strong.