William Atkins
Sunday, 04 January 2009 20:24
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
Thus, these researchers contend that common decision errors made by dieters could be used to their advantage in designing an effective weight-loss plan.
The researchers used 57 healthy adults, from the Philadelphia Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) between the ages of 30 and 70 years. All had a body mass index (BMI) of between 30 and 40.
BMI is a statistical measurement that compares the height and weight of a person. A BMI value of between 30 and 40 indicates that a person is considered obese (extremely overweight).
During the period of May and August 2007, the participants were divided into three weight-loss plans: (1) monthly weight-ins (control group), (2) lottery incentive (lottery group), and (3) deposit contract (deposit contract group) that allowed for participant matching.
Each group had a goal of losing one pound (0.45 kilograms) per week for sixteen weeks. A follow-up analysis was conducted through June 2008.
The participants were weighed by the researchers after sixteen weeks.
The researchers found that people in the lottery group lost an average of 13.1 pounds, while the deposit contract group lost an average of 14.0 pounds.
How much did the control group lose, on average? Please read page three.
