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Providing Support For Weight Loss
2004: Volume
1,
Number 2
Lauve Metcalfe,
MS, FAWHP
Lauve Metcalfe is
Director of Program Development and Community
Outreach for the University of Arizona’s Center
for Physical Activity and Nutrition.
For most people
who are significantly overweight, losing as
little as 5% to 10% of their body weight will
bring health benefits—and losing more might not.
Statistics show
that people who are successful at losing weight
are more knowledgeable about health, nutrition,
physical activity, and wellness than those who
are unsuccessful. So what sets these groups
apart?
In many successful weight management programs,
participants find that keeping a journal of
their daily physical activity and food intake
helps them lose weight. They also set reasonable
goals for themselves and work toward positive
changes in behavior. Then they work at
maintaining their changes; not allowing
themselves to slip back into negative eating
habits and not exercising. The use of
self-monitoring tools and assessments help guide
many individuals in a successful approach to
weight loss. |
