Dieting

losing-weight

iStockphoto &Twitter

Roll -up, roll up wanna know the best way to lose weight?  Got your attention? Great!

I’m sure at one point or another we’ve all struggled to find the best way to lose weight and keep it off. And sure you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to grasp the few basic principles of how to lose weight—Its pretty simple, consume fewer calories than you expend. Yet if it is really so easy, obesity would not be the nation’s number-one lifestyle-related health concern. So why are extra pounds so difficult to shed and keep off?

When it comes to losing weight, a popular New Year’s resolution for many, people often focus on eating less and exercising more. But results of a new survey of psychologists suggest dieters should pay attention to the role emotions play in weight gain and loss if they hope to succeed.

The survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, asked more than 1,300 licensed psychologists how they dealt with clients’ weight and weight loss challenges. When asked which strategies were essential to losing weight and keeping it off, psychologists cited “understanding and managing the behaviors and emotions related to weight management” as essential for addressing weight loss with their clients (44 percent). Survey respondents also cited “emotional eating” (43 percent) as a barrier to weight loss, and included “maintaining a regular exercise schedule” (43 percent) and “making proper food choices in general” (28 percent) as keys to shedding pounds. In general, gaining self-control over behaviors and emotions related to eating were both key, indicating that the two go together.

Ninety-two percent of the 306 respondents who provide weight loss treatment reported helping a client “address underlying emotional issues related to weight gain.” More than 70 percent identified cognitive therapy, problem-solving and mindfulness as “excellent” or “good” weight loss strategies. In addition, motivational strategies, keeping behavioral records and goal-setting were also important in helping clients to lose weight and keep it off, according to survey results. Cognitive therapy helps people identify and address negative thoughts and emotions that can lead to unhealthy behaviors. Mindfulness allows thoughts and emotions to come and go without judging them, and instead concentrate on being aware of the moment. The survey results will be reported in the February 2013 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine® and online at Consumer Reports.org.

“Anyone who has ever tried to lose a few pounds and keep them off knows that doing so isn’t easy. The good news is that research and clinical experience have shown that, in addition to behavioral approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy that targets emotional barriers helps people lose weight,” said Norman B. Anderson, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Consumer Reports surveyed 1,328 licensed psychologists who provide direct patient care in September 2012 about their work and professional opinions regarding weight loss. The online poll was designed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center in partnership with experts provided by the American Psychological Association. Survey participants were randomly selected from the American Psychological Association’s membership file. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. A total of 55 percent of the sample was female, and the median age was 59 years old.

“Although it is generally accepted that weight problems are most often caused by a combination of biological, emotional, behavioral and environmental issues, these new results show the key role of stress and emotional regulation in losing weight. Therefore, the best weight loss tactics should integrate strategies to address emotion and behavior as well as lifestyle approaches to exercise and making healthy eating choices,” said Anderson.

As a footnote those who follow my blog may remember my own New Years Resolution……Shrinkgurl wanted to shrink her waistline. So far I have lost 37 pounds and kept it off. Surrounded by psychologists I am an ideal example of someone who has ample behavioural support! icon wink Wanna know the best way to lose weight?

Association for Psychological Science

Eating disorders don’t always wait until adolescence to appear. Young children who intentionally restrict their eating may have eating disorders as well, according to a study published in the October Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. But what actually prompts youngsters to develop eating disorders? Body dissatisfaction and especially body dissatisfaction coupled with depression are among the leading causes, according to a new study.

read more American Psychiatric Association

Wanna know the best way to lose weight?

losing-weight

iStockphoto &Twitter

Roll -up, roll up wanna know the best way to lose weight? Ah ha! Got your attention? great.

I’m sure at one point or another we’ve all struggled to find the best way to lose weight and keep it off. And sure you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to grasp the few basic principles of how to lose weight—Its pretty simple, consume fewer calories than you expend. Yet if it is really so easy, obesity would not be the nation’s number-one lifestyle-related health concern. So why are extra pounds so difficult to shed and keep off?

Dr David Freedman shows how the concepts of behavioral analysis, ( roughly translated psychologists are the ideal professionals to support you in reaching your goal),…. underlie most successful programs for losing weight.

Take the Scientific American poll to see how your weight-loss attempts compare with other survey-takers. At the end, you will learn about four general rules of thumb that researchers believe increase the chances of losing weight and keeping it off.

As a footnote those who follow my regular posts will remember my own New Years Resolution…… Shrinkgurl wants to shrink her waistline.So far I have lost 1 inch and 6 pounds. Surrounded by psychologists I am an ideal example of someone who has ample behavioural support!
Watch this space I may even post pics 😉

Source: Scientific American

Why we crave sweet and fatty foods

This video courtesy of BigThink is for all of you who have resolved to lose weight. Me 2 😉 Its choc ( no pun intended) full of other goodies too.

Satoshi Kanazawa is an evolutionary psychologist at the London School of Economics. His research uses evolutionary psychology to analyze social sciences such as sociology, economics, and anthropology. His books include, “Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters: From Dating, Shopping, and Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire—Two Evolutionary Psychologists Explain Why We Do What We Do,” “Why Men Gamble and Women Buy Shoes: How Evolution Shaped the Way We Behave” and “Order by Accident: The Origins and Consequences of Conformity in Contemporary Japan.” He also writes the The Scientific Fundamentalist blog for Psychology Today.

Source: BigThink