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If we can all agree on one point, it is that the number on the scale does not give a complete picture of your health. It can however be a useful tool for tracking the progress of weight loss. New research suggests to those who are trying to lose weight that you may want to weigh yourself more often than you think.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh's Faculty of Nursing and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine found that people who weighed themselves daily were more likely to lose weight than those who did not.
According to unpublished research (to be presented this week at the 2018 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association), researchers analyzed data from 1,042 adults, 47 years old on average. Over the course of a year, participants weighed themselves as usual. , but they used Wi-Fi or Bluetooth compatible scales that sent data to researchers. Participants received no advice or guidance, except to control their weight normally.
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At the end of the year, those who never weighed themselves or did it once a week did not lose weight. Participants who weighed themselves six or seven times a week, however, lost 1.7% of their weight, which the study considers significant.
What is so special about climbing the ladder on a daily basis? The theory is that keeping a close eye on your numbers makes you more aware of how certain behaviors (what you eat, how much exercise you do, etc.) affect your weight.
Edward Abramson, PhD, author of It's not just baby fat! and professor emeritus of psychology at California State University, subscribes to this theory. Humans are not made to live in an environment where calorically dense and tasty foods are readily available, says Abramson Health.
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"You're never far from a Starbucks or McDonald's, you can put something in your microwave or buy a Snickers bar," he says. "To cope with an environment that favors useless meals, you really need to be conscious and deliberate about the choices you make." One way to be more attentive: daily weighing.
Before making your balance your new best friend, it is important to know that such rigorous monitoring is not suitable for everyone. Anyone struggling with weight or body image issues should avoid weighing daily, especially those who have struggled with an eating disorder.
"Some of my clients see the weight simply as a data point. Other people experience an emotional connection with this number, which can trigger a lot of anxiety, or even depression, or other unhealthy behaviors, such as undernutrition and excessive binge eating. " says Cynthia Sass, MPH, Dt.P. Health editor contributing to nutrition.
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Abramson states that, according to his experience, daily weighing is too heavy for patients with a history of eating disorders. To avoid making the number on the scale a central part of life, he suggests that these patients weigh themselves once a week if they need it.
Weighing every day is only useful if you are able to use the information you retrieve as information, well, information, says Sass. "For these people, the numbers can help them understand the patterns and make connections between certain behaviors and their weight, such as eating out or drinking alcohol."
Conclusion: You must have confidence in your relationship with your body before being part of your daily routine. But when you are ready to try your luck, this could be a useful tool to keep your weight loss journey on track.
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