The overweight person's repeated failure to lose weight after following various diet books and eventual cessation of efforts is demonstrating learned helplessness, where they have learned to believe no effort will change their situation.
The situation described is most specifically demonstrating the phenomenon of learned helplessness. Learned helplessness occurs when an individual experiences repeated failures at a task and eventually gives up, believing that no amount of effort will lead to success. This concept was first examined by psychologist Martin Seligman through experiments with dogs that were conditioned to believe they could not avoid shocks.
This belief led to a passive acceptance of the shocks, even when they could have escaped. Similarly, the overweight person in this scenario has made several unsuccessful attempts at weight loss through different diet books, failing each time. Subsequently, the person stops trying to lose weight, leading to a gradual increase in BMI due to a belief that effort will not change their situation, embodying the concept of learned helplessness.
Behavioral interventions for weight loss, which include setting realistic goals, education on nutrition, and active lifestyle changes, have been shown to help individuals avoid falling into patterns of learned helplessness by achieving a sense of control and success in weight management. However, the lack of control perceived in repeated dieting failures can lead to a more entrenched sense of helplessness, impacting motivation and the ability to engage in effective weight management strategies.