As most of us who have struggled with our weight know, the majority of the time diets don’t work. No matter how hard we try or how much willpower we have, when we follow the latest dietary advice, our long-term results often fall short of our hopeful expectations. Many times this leads to frustration, anger, and a feeling of failure, leaving us resigned to the possibility of anything different.

Although I’ve never been a strong advocate of any particular way of eating, as I believe that we...