All weight loss programs have one thing in common: They claim to have found the key to making you lose weight. One of the most popular recent weight loss programs is called Noom and claims that behavioral psychology is the key to helping people lose weight.
Behavioral psychology aims to understand why we behave in a certain way and to analyze our patterns of actions and behaviors. Although other studies are needed on the effectiveness of Noom, on the other hand, psychology techniques can help people lose weight successfully. Here are three behaviors that Noom advises:
1. Goal setting
Many weight loss programs start by asking people to set a goal. Creating this “goal” actually motivates you to change behavior. A combination of goals (physical activity, healthy eating) can be more effective in keeping people motivated and helping them achieve their goals. But how many goals should a person set? One study found that goal setting means you are more likely to make changes, which ultimately means you are more likely to lose weight. However, there is no concrete evidence of the exact number of goals to be set.
2. Self-monitoring
Measuring your weight and what you eat - known as "self-monitoring" - is one of the most effective strategies in the field of behavioral psychology for weight loss and is included in most weight management programs. Self-monitoring works by making you more aware of what you are eating and drinking and what is happening to your weight. On the other hand, it can help you avoid consuming unhealthy foods. Research shows that weighing at least once a week leads to the greatest success - one study even suggests daily weighing.
3. Social support
The third strategy is to get feedback and support from friends, family or supervised programs. The reason why social support helps is because it creates a sense of responsibility. Research has shown that people who follow weight loss programs with a friend or family member are more likely to follow it and lose more weight.
Burimet: CNN, The Conversation
