Want to Lose Weight? Join a Support Group

If you are like many Americans, you are probably looking for a good way to lose a little weight. There are countless diets to try, complete with online how-to’s and mobile apps to back you up. However, a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine suggests that joining a weight-loss group might be your best bet.

The study found that participants who went to weight-loss group meetings lost an average of 10.1 pounds in six months, while those who dieted solo lost an average of only 1.3 pounds, according to an article by Marie Ellis featured on Medical News Today. Those who attended meetings were also eight times more likely to achieve a 5 percent weight loss than those who did not attend meetings.

Another interesting factoid is that participants who went to meetings and used online tools and mobile apps lost even more weight – an average of 19 pounds.

Thinking about it. It makes sense. Imagine you are working late one night. When dinner time rolls around, are you more likely to order a pizza or a salad? Chances are that if you were due to attend some kind of weight-loss meeting the next day, you would go for the salad or some other less-fatty meal. Why? Because you have a scale and a whole group of people to face. That’s a motivation more powerful than the shameful “I shouldn’t have eaten that much pizza” feeling you get the next morning when you are squeezing into your pants after over-eating the night before.

Now, it is worth noting that this study focused on participants who attended Weight Watchers meetings, and that the study was in fact funded by Weight Watchers International. Even so, it’s hard to argue that getting in front of a group of people to talk about your weight loss – or gain – is a hell of a motivator.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267537.php

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.