RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Most Americans these days navigate life spend lots of time on the phone. Many are also on diets. For the vast sea of people who belong to both these groups, a new study suggests that by using the former you can facilitate the latter.
THE DETAILS: In a 6-month study, researchers supported the weight-loss efforts of 376 obese men and women in five different ways. Randomly divided into groups, the dieters received either: 1) high frequency face-to-face lifestyle counseling (up to 18 visits with a dietitian in six months); 2) low-frequency face-to-face counseling (up to seven visits in six months); 3) high-frequency telephone counseling (up to 18 calls from a dietitian in six months); 4) high-frequency e-mail counseling (up to 18 e-mails from a dietitian in six months); or 5) no contact with a dietitian.
At the end of the six months, on average, the group that had high-frequency in-person counseling lost 9 percent of their starting weight over six months. The group that had frequent phone calls lost 8 percent. The group that had less frequent in-person visits and the group that had e-mails each lost about 6 percent. And the group left to its own devices lost 5 percent.
WHAT IT MEANS: Dietitian counseling over the phone can be an excellent and less pricey replacement for face-to-face counseling. And its convenience could actually boost adherence to the weight-loss program.
Here’s how you can dial in for weight loss:
• Ring an R.D. Make an in-person appointment with a registered dietitian to go over your weight loss goals and strategies. Then schedule regular phone-in sessions to check your progress. “Being accountable to someone other than yourself definitely increases the likelihood that you’ll continue the healthy behaviors that helped you to lose weight in the first place,” says Elisa Zied, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and author of Feed Your Family Right! Zied’s recommended phone-call frequency rate: “It depends on the person and his or her budget,” she says. “Once every week, two weeks or month should be realistic, however.” Your dietitian may be willing to prorate her normal 30- to 60-minute in-session fee for 10-minute phone calls; fees vary depending on your situation, but your health insurance may cover some of it. Check the ADA web site to find weight loss counseling in your area.
• Phone home. Can’t afford a dietitian? Use your mother—or anyone else who will encourage you to meet your goals without judging you (if your body is also trying to lose, you can return the favor). “A lot of studies show that having a buddy can help weight loss because you’re accountable to each other,” says Zied. “The same applies to buddy calls.” Zied cautions, however, that the strategy can backfire if your helper evolves from cheerleader to taskmaster.