Get a buddy, lose weight

The other day I went to a restaurant with a couple of friends and when the food came we were taken aback by the enormous, almost comical size of the portions.

After eating my fill I took home enough food for two more meals – literally.

So I wasn’t a bit surprised to read the results of a new study from the World Health Organization: Americans have been eating more and more and more and more…

Using data collected over three decades, the WHO team concluded that a substantial and steady increase in calorie consumption plays a larger role in the U.S. obesity crises than lack of physical activity. In fact, as a nation, our physical activity has actually increased over 30 years.

Their recommendation: Adults should try to reduce their energy intake by 500 calories per day – recognizing, of course, that choosing nutritious, minimally processed foods is a key part of the equation.

But cutting 3,500 calories per week from your current intake won’t be a snap. You might need a little help. But it only has to be a little – it doesn’t need to be intensive.

A new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that women were successful in losing weight when they had regularly scheduled, personal interaction with a health professional. And they were just as successful as women who participated in more intensive (and expensive) programs that involved physical trainers and dietitians.

Women in the study who had weigh-in visits and nutritional counseling with a nurse every two weeks lost weight even when the nurses were not specifically trained to give dietary advice.

But not everyone has a nurse at their disposal. So to extrapolate for the real world: You’re simply more likely to succeed if you have a trustworthy buddy – someone you check in with on a regular basis, who’s encouraging when you struggle, and celebrates with you when you achieve set goals.

Sources:
“Overeating to Blame for U.S. Obesity Epidemic” Megan Rauscher, Reuters Health, 5/8/09, reutershealth.com
“Program Makes Weight Loss a Success” Ivanhoe Newswire, 5/13/09, ivanhoe.com