Because total caloric intake is only one of many factors important to the maintenance of a particular weight level, overreliance on marketing websites recommending that people focus primarily on counting calories diminish their ability to achieve a certain weight loss or maintain a desired weight level.



A. recommending that people focus primarily on counting calories diminish their ability to achieve a certain weight loss or


B. recommending a focus primarily on counting calories is diminishing people’s ability to achieve a certain weight loss or


C. that recommend that people primarily focus on counting calories diminish the ability either to achieve a certain weight loss or to


D. that recommend that people focus primarily on counting calories are diminishing the ability to either achieve a certain weight loss or


E. to recommend that people primarily focus on counting calories is diminishing their ability to achieve a certain weight loss or


Doubt- Why can't infinitive be used as in option E?


An infinitive cannot be used in this sentence.


Look at the structure of the sentence-


Because total caloric intake is only......, overreliance on marketing websites (modifier) is diminishing people’s ability to achieve a certain weight loss or..

We have to use a modifier to modify marketing websites. What kind of marketing websites? 

The use of infinitive would mean that there's an intent/ purpose of market websites, which cannot be the case in the sentence. Logic should always take precedence.