Khaberni - A study conducted by researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University in the USA revealed a simple trick that might help improve weight loss, without the need for medications or dietary supplements.
They explained that repeating the same meals daily, and maintaining a fixed number of calories, facilitates the process of losing excess weight. The results were published on Thursday in the journal "Health Psychology".
Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. It is influenced by factors including genetics, lifestyle, high-calorie diets, and lack of physical activity. Psychological and social factors can also play a role in weight gain, such as stress, lack of sleep, and irregular eating habits.
Addressing obesity requires adopting sustainable lifestyle changes, including following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and improving daily habits to maintain a healthy weight.
During the study, researchers analyzed precise real-time dietary records of 112 overweight or obese individuals who participated in a structured behavioral weight loss program.
Participants were asked to record everything they ate daily through an app on their phone, in addition to weighing themselves daily. The researchers focused on the first weeks of the program to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
They conducted two types of measurements regarding dietary regularity: firstly, the fluctuation in calorie intake from day to day and between weekdays and weekends, and secondly, how often participants ate the same foods and snacks instead of constantly trying new foods.
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The team followed adults who followed a more regular dietary pattern, such as repeating the same meals and maintaining calorie stability over time, and found that they lost more weight during a 12-week behavioral program compared to those who ate a more varied diet.
The results showed that those who repeated the same foods lost, on average, 5.9 percent of their weight, compared to 4.3 percent for those who consumed varied meals. It also indicated that consistency in daily calories is associated with better outcomes; every 100 calorie increase in daily variation reduced weight loss by about 0.6 percent over the study period.
According to researchers, the results suggest that simplifying food choices, such as preparing a fixed menu of favorite meals and maintaining calorie stability, may help people build sustainable habits in a challenging dietary environment.
However, the researchers warned that the study shows a correlational and not a direct causal relationship, and that other factors, such as personal motivation and discipline, may also play a role.
They noted that previous studies linked dietary variety to better health, but they generally focused on variety within healthy food groups like fruits and vegetables. However, in our current environment, following a repetitive diet might be better for helping people consistently make healthy choices.
