Small, Short-Term Weight Loss Goals = Long-Term Success
Small, Short-Term Weight Loss Goals = Long-Term Success
by Liz Moon, NP
Are you an “all or nothing” person when it comes to setting health related goals? You may want to consider small, short-term goals that can shift as you make progress. “In a recent study, Uetake and Nathan Yang of McGill University used data from a diet app (users track themselves against their daily budget of caloric or macronutrient intake) to understand the most effective ways to set and reach weight-loss goals.
Yale Insights: To Reach Weight-Loss Targets, Start with Small Goals
Researchers Uetake and Yang built a model to explore how small variations in goal design could potentially influence motivation and outcomes. They found that:
Adaptive goals, which get more or less challenging over time, are more beneficial than static goals; a process of “dynamic difficulty adjustment.”
People with the highest body-mass index (BMI) demonstrated the greatest progress when given challenging goals. The most effective goals vary in their aims, sometimes focusing on consumption targets, other times on exercise targets.
The researchers feel these principles of goal setting could easily be applied to any realm including consumer finance, energy consumption, and education. If you are interested in setting yourself up for success related to your health, get in touch today! We have a wonderful team including a Behavioral Counselor, Registered Dietitian, Nurses, and Doctors ready to help you. Contact us at 224-407-4400 or through our website www.compgihealth.com