When you get down in the dumps about your weight loss and fitness goals, who give you that “pep talk” to pick you up?  For some it’s family, for others its friend or even their personal trainer.  No matter who you turn to; research shows that it could be the difference between you losing more weight or falling off the wagon completely. 

Dr. Jim Mann of the Edgar National Center for Diabetes Research in Dunedin and colleagues randomly assigned 200 women who had lost at least 5% of their body weight to the nurse-led support group or an intensive-support program.

Women in the nurse support group weighed in with the nurse every two weeks and talked with her about their diet and physical activity, with sessions lasting from five to 10 minutes. In the weeks between weigh-ins, the same nurse would check in with the study participant by phone. These study participants also were offered monthly support groups.

 

   Overall, the nurse group stayed in the program for the longest amount of time and with the best long lasting success.  While the other group (intensive support group) dropped off and had a less successful experience without lasting results. 

“Such a program can be implemented at a fraction of the cost of an intensive-support program, which many believe is essential for successful long-term maintenance of weight loss.”

 

   Although all support is good support; some weight loss counseling is severely expensive.  Most health insurances give counseling for weight loss; if you don’t want to dish out the money then check into the your available health resources. 

Adria Ali

(CES, PES, CPT, BS)