Focus on immediate health benefits ‘is the best weight loss motivation’

Weight loss programmes are more successful if they focus on the immediate health benefits of shedding a few pounds, such as reduced pain, a study has found.

Most weight loss programmes try to motivate individuals by warning them of the long-term health consequences of obesity.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) studied the participants of a local weight loss programme.

They found that 21 per cent of the group reported significantly less pain in their lower extremities and backs after they lost an average of ten pounds.

A 20 to 30 per cent reduction in overall bodily pain was reported by the group after they had lost weight.

“Our study results challenge people to rethink the way they structure weight loss programmes,” said study leader Dr Kermit Davis.

Last week, Dr Jennifer Kelly, of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine, claimed that women who suffer from chronic pain should be encouraged to exercise more as this has been proven to alleviate the problem.

Would a weight loss programme that focuses on more immediate health benefits work better for you?