What would make you lose weight?

Most people need an incentive to lose weight or visit the gym.
It can be the target of a special occasion, or the promise of a new outfit.

Employers are not usually involved - but under government plans, they might be.

The anti-obesity strategy launched on Wednesday sets out a series of measures to reverse the rising trend in obesity in England.

One idea is to involve employers in promoting healthy living, whether through "Well@Work" weight-loss competitions for staff, or with incentives like leisure vouchers.

Such measures would be aimed not only at improving individuals' health but also benefitting companies - who would have a more motivated and healthier workforce who took less time off.

The idea comes from the US, where many companies have introduced healthy living schemes, with some even offering financial incentives.

Early stage
One three-month study of 200 people, carried out by independent researchers RTI International and the University of North Carolina, found offering cash payments for each percentage of weight lost was effective - with the highest payment of $14 (£7.17) being the best incentive.

RTI International's Dr Eric Finkelstein, an expert on the link between obesity and the economy, said US companies were looking at ways of cutting the burden of insurance payments for employers as well as having a healthier workforce.

But a spokesman for the Department of Health said it was not looking at offering people hard cash for going to the gym or lose weight.

She added the use of incentives - such as vouchers - was at a very early stage of development.

"We are working with the experts, looking at the success of schemes worldwide that have been used in the public and private sector to incentivise employers, organisations and individuals to encourage healthy living and improved physical activity.

"One way this has been to work is to encourage people to get fit with motivational interviews and incentives such as free access to leisure or health facilities."

'No lasting effect'
But research cited by the department as evidence such schemes could be successful actually showed no long term benefit.

The study of over 500 people in Newcastle in 1999 gave people motivational chats and, for some, leisure vouchers during a three-month study.

At the end of the study, 55% of those who had six interviews plus 30 vouchers entitling them to free leisure facilities had increased their levels of physical activity compared to 35% of those who only received the chats.

However, when the researchers went back to people a year after the start of the study, they found that these short-term boosts in activity levels had not been sustained.


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How to Maintain Your New Healthy Weight

Maintaining Your New Weight

When you get to your healthy target weight, what’s the best way to maintain it? Should you increase your calorie intake all at once or by so many calories each day?


A: This is a really good question – and congratulations on hitting target, or at least almost being there. After weeks, months or even years of controlling your calorie intake, knowing what to do when you hit target can be scary but you can’t stick with your dieting calorie allowance forever.



While some successful slimmers prefer to immediately increase their calorie intake, others prefer to do it in steps. In many ways, this is a good idea as it helps you to concentrate on getting your extra calories by gradually increasing the portion sizes of the foods you’re already eating rather than suddenly adding in chocolate, crisps, booze and takeaways. I recommend this five-step plan to maintain your new healthier weight.

Five Step Plan


Step 1 Once you reach target, add 250 calories a day to your existing daily calorie intake. This means if you’ve been having 1,250 calories each day, you should now have 1,500 calories a day.

Step 2 After a week, weigh yourself on your usual scales. You’ll probably have lost a little more weight. If so, add another 250 calories to last week’s daily allowance. So, if you were having 1,500 calories a day, now have 1,750 calories daily.



Step 3 After a week, weigh yourself again. If you’ve lost more weight, add an extra 250 calories to your daily intake, for example from 1,750 calories to 2,000 calories each day.



Step 4 After a week, if your weight has stabilised that’s the amount of calories you need each day to keep your new slim shape. If you’ve gained a tiny amount, drop your daily calorie intake by 100 calories, for example, from 2,000 calories to 1,900 calories daily. After a week, weigh yourself again. If your weight has stayed the same, that’s the amount of calories you need each day for weight maintenance. If your weight has gone up or down, juggle your daily calorie intake by 50 calories a day until your weight eventually stabilises.



Step 5 Weigh yourself once a week on your usual scales until you are confident that you’re maintaining your healthy weight.



Tags: calories Chocolate Portion