All weight loss programs have one thing in common: They claim to have found the key to making you lose pounds. One of the most popular recent weight loss programs is called Noom and it 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 the patterns of our actions and behaviors. Although more studies are needed on Noom's effectiveness, on the other hand, psychology techniques can help people lose weight successfully. There are three behaviors that Noom advises:
1. Goal setting
Many weight loss programs begin by asking people to set a goal. Creating this "goal" actually motivates you to change the behavior. A combination of goals (physical activity, healthy eating) may be more effective in keeping people motivated and helping them achieve goals.
But how many goals should a person set? One study found that goal setting means you're more likely to make the changes, which ultimately means you're more likely to lose weight. However, there is no concrete evidence of the exact number of goals that should be set.
2. Self-monitoring
Measuring your weight and what you eat - known as "self-monitoring" - is one of the most effective strategies from 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're eating and drinking and what's happening to your weight. In turn, this can help you avoid eating unhealthy foods. Research shows that weighing yourself at least once a week leads to the most success—one study even suggests weighing yourself daily.
3. Social support
The third strategy is to get feedback and support from friends, family, or supervised programs. The reason 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 through and lose more weight.
Sources: CNN, The Conversation
