Throughout my life I’ve heard different people talk about all the many diets they are on or have tried. I’ve heard about many ranging from no carbs, to only fruits and vegetables, to Jenny Craig and other preplanned meal diets. Each time I heard someone talk about one of these diets, I wondered how effective they actually were and how long the results would last.
Research done at UCLA shows that diets may seem very beneficial at first, but are not a long term fix to weight issues, “‘You can initially lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then the weight comes back,’ said Traci Mann, UCLA associate professor of psychology and lead author of the study.” Every diet provides evidence that makes them seem extremely effective and attempts to compel people into participating in them, but as you look more into them, many have elements are hidden from the public eye. There is also that proves that certain diets can actually be harmful to the body because they “may lack essential nutrients”.
There are also articles that show that as you begin dieting and constantly worrying about weighing yourself, it could easily spark different eating disorders. Many different studies have shown that the best results have occurred when Americans have given up the formal diet idea and adopted a healthy eating style. As people consider diets and different means of staying healthy, based on research provided from many different sources, I believe that the best way to do so is keep on a regular basis of eating healthy and working out. 
I have heard of crash diets and only drinking soups or gluten-free diets and such. These are even more dangerous than simply eating a little less. This also impacts muscle tissue and diets can also cause problems with bodily functions.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/20/crash.diets.harm.health/
This article highlights some of the effects of crash diets that furthers your good point about not dieting, but rather taking the limit and variety approach.
I have a friend who would always go on these crazy diets to lose weight quick. But then she would stop doing them and gain the weight back. Finally she started working out and she felt a million times better than dieting all the time. I think this is important for people to understand, especially college students, because what we start thinking now will continue to with us for the rest of our lives. So if we start being healthy now instead of trying to keep up with the latest diet trend, we will be better in the long run.
I agree with you, that eating and maintaining a healthy life style that includes exercise will benefit you more in the long run rather than a particular diet. I think that if you do want to go on a diet, go on the diet but also continue to work out and after you end the diet, eat healthy and continue to work out on a daily basis since you can gain the weight back.