People experience higher self-control using
this weight loss technique.
When people are reminded how challenging weight loss really is,
they experience greater self-control, new research finds.
People in the study told that their self-control is weak, and
the temptations too strong, fought back in their minds against the suggestion.
It’s reverse psychology.
Being reminded of the obstacles — such as tempting foods and the
wrong genes — encourages the mind to strengthen its resolve.
Professor Michael Lowe, the study’s first author,
explained:
“We said, ‘It’s impressive and encouraging that you are taking
this step to improve your weight and health, but we need to help you understand
the daunting challenges you’re facing.’
The
reason we did this was not to discourage them, but to give them a more
realistic sense of how crucial it is for them to make lasting changes in their
parts of the food environment that they could control.”
The study compared two different types of weight loss programme
in 262 overweight and obese people.
One focused on changing the home food environment (HFE) and the
other on cognitive therapy.
The results revealed that both groups lost similar amounts of weight.
However, part of the home food environment intervention involved
reminding people how hard it is to lose weight.
They were also reminded how weak their
self-control was — and that made their self-control stronger.
This is reverse psychology, said Professor Lowe:
“…by
questioning the usefulness of building self-control skills, the HFE treatment
may have bolstered the very capacity it was meant to downplay — stronger
self-control with regard to food.”
Weight loss is hard and that needs to be acknowledged, said
Professor Lowe:
“Rather
than acting as cheerleaders giving facile encouragement, leaders of weight loss
groups might serve their clients better by providing a more sobering
description of the challenges participants face.”
cr: https://www.spring.org.uk/2018/11/weight-loss-self-control.php
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