Changing environment can help lose weight--study

A person can effectively lose a good amount of weight with constant and healthy changes in outer environment and eating habits.

The study looked at 200 people from a web-based weight-loss program the National Mindless Eating Challenge (predecessor of the MindlessMethod.com), who were randomly divided in three different groups.

They were given dieting tips falling in three unique categories: changing your environment, changing your eating behavior, and changing your food choices.

The participants were further asked to strictly follow a diet plan adhering to their respective categories for three months.

Revelations of the study
On completion of the study period, the participants had all lost 1-2 pounds per tip in a month, revealed the researchers.

The participants who followed tips on changing and stylizing their environment reported a higher success in sticking to the diet plan.

"We found that dieters who were given stylized environmental tips — such as use a 10-inch plate, move the candy dish, or rearrange their cupboards — stuck to their diets an average of two more days per month," said Wansink, author of the book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.

All the participants agreed that they noticed a huge change in their overall health by the changes.

"What made the biggest difference? Consistency," Wansink said.

Thereby, anyone who follows the tips for 20 consecutive days would surely feel the change, the research team claimed.

The findings of the study were presented at this week’s Experimental Biology conference in Anaheim, California, U.S.

Some simple changes could help lose weight
Using smaller dinner plates, keeping high calorie foods out of sight, and turning off the television, computer and cell phones during mealtime are some simple changes which can highly contribute towards a positive environment change.

"These types of changes are much easier to follow than saying you will eat smaller meals, substitute fruit for sweets, or give up chocolate and French fries," Wansink said.

About a dozen studies have found that, for most people, eating is a response to external cues such as the sight of others eating, the tempting smells from the cookie stand in the mall, or a clock signaling that it's time for a coffee break.

Similarly for some others, eating is used as a method for coping with stressors and negative emotional states such as depression, anxiety, anger, boredom, or loneliness. Therefore, these environment changes could help people get rid of their eating obsessions even without concious knowledge.

Nowadays even doctors and dietitians are frequently seen suggesting their overweight patients to change the way they live to lose weight.