Ask almost anyone what they would like to change about their body and a huge majority will say that they would like to lose some weight. Weight loss is a huge industry with diets, magazines and doctors all suggesting different strategies for shedding the pounds. It impossible to find a one-size-fits-all solution to the issue, and diets that work for some people will not work for others. However, there is new research that suggests that if we keep it simple, we have the best chance of success.
A study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, revealed that the most successful way to lose weight was to follow a few simple steps rather than by trying complex or prohibitive diets. The steps were: to keep a food journal, to not skip meals and to avoid dining at restaurants for lunch.
The study looked at 123 overweight-to-obese women aged between 50 and 75. These women were then randomly assigned into two groups of a controlled weight-loss intervention study. One group focused on diet and exercise, while the other group involved only a diet. They were also asked to fill out a questionnaire to assess the change in their diet from the beginning to the end of the study.
Women in both groups lost an average of ten percent of their starting weight, with some of the specific elements being highly illuminating. Women who kept food journals lost an average of 6 pounds more than those who did not. Women who skipped meals lost almost 8 pounds fewer than those who did not. Women who ate out for lunch at least once a week lost an average of around 5 pounds fewer than those who did not.
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