People can lose 10 times more weight by simply changing how they think, according to a study.
Researchers found simply imaging yourself as being slimmer can be enough to help dieters achieve their weight-loss goals.
Portsmouth University scientists found dieters using functional imagery training (FIT) lost 1st (14lbs) and 9cm from their waists after a year, on average.
In contrast, patients who tried ‘motivational interviews’ – being encouraged by a counsellor to shed fat – lost just 0.1 stone (1.4lbs) and 0.24cm from their waists.
All of the patients were on a diet or exercising regularly – two known factors that can boost weight loss efforts even further.
FIT involves people visualising what it would feel, smell, look and taste like to be thinner.
The researchers analysed 141 overweight volunteers; defined as having a BMI of at least 25.
Fifty nine of the participants received FIT, while the remaining 55 had ‘motivational interviews’ (MI).