Weight loss behaviour

Question
Do you believe in behavioral techniques in dieting? Or is a wishi-washi newagey stuff?

A.

Answer
Hello,

We dieters know too well that to lose weight is nothing comparing with how hard it is to keep it off. In the arsenal of weapons against yo-yo weight swings, behavioral methods play maybe even more significant role than injust losing weight. Doctors agree:

Despite the well-documented success of behavioral techniques in producing temporary weight loss, treatmentis typically followed by weight regain. The maintenance of treatment effects may therefore be the greatest challenge in the long-term management of obesity, and continuous care may be necessary to achieve it. (Int J Obes Relat MetabDisord 2000 Jul;24(7):893-8)

However, how many doctors implement this strategy?

Did you know that doctors' advise to lose weight is too uncommon?

Advice to lose weight is and is given primarily to those who arealready obese, are middle-aged, and have obesity-related health problems.Researchers from Miriam Hospital, Providence, concluded that health carepractitioners may be missing important opportunities to counsel mildly overweightindividuals to lose weight or to maintain their weight and thereby preventobesity complications.

Who reports receiving advice to lose weight?

Middle-aged individuals with BMI (body-mass index) above 30, thosewith more education, and those living in the North East were also more likelyto receive advice to lose weight. Receiving advice to maintain weight wasreported by only 2. 5% of people participated in Behavioral Risk Factor survey conducted in 10 states of the US.

Do people follow advice to lose weight?

Yes, they do! Receiving advice to lose weight was strongly associatedwith trying to lose weight, especially in those with a BMI of 25 to 27. Behavioral Risk Factor survey indicated that 77.5% who received advice reportedtrying to lose weight comparing with only 33.4% of those who did not receiveadvice.(Arch Intern Med 2000 Aug 14-28;160(15):2334-9)

Whose advice people accept best?

Any advice is received well. Dietary advice is equally effectivewhen given by a dietitian, a practice nurse, or a diet leaflet alone. (BMJ 1995 Mar 4;310(6979):569-73)

The latest online program that loooks good enough to me is diet.com with its free diet personality test that you might want to try.

Hope it helps,

Tanya Zilberter, PhD

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