If you could lose weight by taking a “before” picture of your food; would you do it? Now a new study is surfacing about how your body perceives the food you eat.
The traditional way of tracking your food is through some sort of food diary. This new diet called the “Flash Diet.” Has you take pictures of your food before you eat it! Here’s how it worked….
They asked 43 dieters to record what they ate over one week in words and in pictures, New Scientist magazine reports today.
When the researchers quizzed the volunteers, the photo diaries were a far more effective and accurate record of daily calories and a far more powerful disincentive to overeat.
One volunteer told the researchers: ‘I had to think more carefully about what I was going to eat because I had to take a picture of it.
‘I was less likely to have a jumbo bag of M&Ms. It curbed my choices. It didn’t alter them completely but who wants to take a photo of a jumbo bag of M&Ms?’
Another volunteer said the photo diaries actually improved the quality of his diet.
‘I noticed that there weren’t too many greens in my diet, which means I should try to eat more vegetables and fruits.’
By contrast, the written diaries were usually completed long after each meal and did not provide as powerful a reminder of the size and quality of meals and snacks.
‘Overall, the participants demonstrated greater awareness of their diet when viewing the photographs than when reflecting on their written notes,’ the researchers said.
During the study, the volunteers used disposable cameras. But the researchers, who published their findings in the International Journal of Consumer Studies, said digital cameras would give more immediate results.
They added that since digital cameras are a feature on most mobile phones, this method of recording a diet is even more accessible.
Past studies have shown that dieters who make a note of what they eat lose three times as much weight as those who simply try to eat more healthily(source).
People can learn in several ways. Many people are “visual” learners while the others are “auditory” learners. So, who’s to say that dieters aren’t the same? Maybe this will change the course of how people diet in the future.
Adria Ali
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