Between strict diets and pushing yourself in the gym, it can be hard to stay motivated trying to shed a few kilos.
But new findings set to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2018 suggest there’s one tiny habit that can keep you on track to lose weight: daily weighing.
Recruiting 1042 adults ( 78 per cent male, 90 per cent white and with an average age of 47), researchers analysed their self-weighing patterns to determine if it affected their weight over a 12 month period.
Their weighing habits were self-reported without guidance, interventions or weight-loss incentives from the team of authors.
After receiving the data, the scientists created categories based on how regularly the participants stood on the scales.
Results found that those who weighed themselves six to seven times a week lost the most weight ( 1.7 per cent) over 12 months. Meanwhile, those who never stepped on the scales saw no weight loss.
The research suggests that by continuously weighing yourself, the person is able to understand how they’re different behaviours affects their weight loss and weight gain. These conclusions are backed up by previous reports put together by study authors from Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania
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