Many people struggle to log everything they eat and drink, a process that is often necessary for successful weight loss.
However, a new study found that you don’t need to track your diet perfectly to achieve significant weight loss.
How Was the Study Conducted?
Scientists from the University of Connecticut, the University of Florida, and the University of Pennsylvania studied 153 participants in a weight loss program for six months.
The participants used a commercial digital weight loss program to report their food intake.
The study aimed to find out the best amount of diet tracking needed to predict 3%, 5%, and 10% weight loss after six months.
What Did the Study Find?
Surprisingly, you don’t have to log your diet every day to see results.
The study found that people only needed to log their food on around 30% of the days to lose more than 3% weight, on 40% of the days to lose over 5% weight, and on nearly 70% of days to lose more than 10% weight.
These findings are promising because the goal for a six-month weight loss program is usually 5% to 10% weight loss, where health benefits have been seen in clinical trials.
How Does This Change Things?
The results of the study will help design future programs to improve user tracking based on individual needs.
By using data science to understand patterns in tracking habits, researchers can identify when extra assistance might be needed and who would benefit the most.
One exciting aspect of digital weight loss programs is that they provide a lot of data on participant behavior.
This allows for a more precise approach to understanding behavior patterns and designing targeted interventions.
The Bottom Line
This study is good news for people who find it hard to consistently log their food intake. It shows that even imperfect tracking can lead to significant weight loss.
The research also points to a future where digital programs are tailored to individual needs based on data-driven insights.
If you care about weight management, please read studies about diets that could boost your gut health and weight loss, and 10 small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain.
For more information about obesity, please see recent studies about low-carb keto diet could manage obesity effectively and results showing popular weight loss diet linked to heart disease and cancer.
The study was published in Obesity.
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