Motivation and keeping a journal of what you eat are key components for shedding excess weight.
Motivation and keeping a journal of what you eat are key components for shedding excess weight.
It was found that the type of motivation for dieting and techniques to boost it when it dips could make the difference between success and failure.
To examine the impact of motivation on weight loss, researchers identified sixty-six women, aged between 22 and 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40, and having a home computer with Internet access. All the dieters were given questionnaires and asked to describe their motivation for weight loss, and these were monitored every four weeks during the 16-week weight-loss programme. They also measured their own progress with an online self-monitoring programme. The researchers studied two types of motivation - autonomous and controlled. Autonomous motivation is driven by personal reasons, while controlled motivation is based more on pressure from others and feelings of guilt.
It was found that dieters who were self motivated and who kept a journal tended to be more successful. Sustaining motivation was essential because once it began to drop, usually between weeks four to eight in unsuccessful dieters, it affected their weight loss as well. Successful dieters who dropped 5 percent of their body weight were those who managed to keep the motivation going.
The results suggest that autonomous motivation helps in staying loyal to weight loss programme.
It was found that the type of motivation for dieting and techniques to boost it when it dips could make the difference between success and failure.
To examine the impact of motivation on weight loss, researchers identified sixty-six women, aged between 22 and 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40, and having a home computer with Internet access. All the dieters were given questionnaires and asked to describe their motivation for weight loss, and these were monitored every four weeks during the 16-week weight-loss programme. They also measured their own progress with an online self-monitoring programme. The researchers studied two types of motivation - autonomous and controlled. Autonomous motivation is driven by personal reasons, while controlled motivation is based more on pressure from others and feelings of guilt.
It was found that dieters who were self motivated and who kept a journal tended to be more successful. Sustaining motivation was essential because once it began to drop, usually between weeks four to eight in unsuccessful dieters, it affected their weight loss as well. Successful dieters who dropped 5 percent of their body weight were those who managed to keep the motivation going.
The results suggest that autonomous motivation helps in staying loyal to weight loss programme.
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