New research: A positive attitude helps you lose weight

If you want to succeed in your weight loss journey, it is important to have a positive attitude.
Focus on how much your health can improve by changing your diet and exercise habits, rather than worrying about the harmful effects of being overweight.
This will give you a better chance of reaching your target weight, according to British researchers.

Attitude and mindset play a significant role in a person’s chances of successfully losing weight, according to new research. A study from the University of Oxford in the UK shows that an optimistic view of weight loss leads to significantly better results compared to scare tactics.

The study compared how different doctors treated 246 patients who were all obese and offered to participate in a 12-week weight loss program. The researchers mapped the doctors’ tone of voice and choice of words and divided them into three categories: positive, neutral, and negative.

Tone of voice mattered

The doctors who were classified as positive had a cheerful tone of voice, highlighted the health benefits of losing weight, and presented the weight loss program as an opportunity to feel better.
The neutral doctors presented the proposal to participate in the program without any particular evaluation, while the negative doctors talked about obesity as a harmful health problem that needed to be addressed and exhibited a pessimistic view with a focus on the challenges of staying in shape.

Positive attitude led to better results

The difference may seem subtle, but it proved to have a significant impact on how well patients succeeded in losing weight. Those who were given a positive picture of the health benefits were 33 percent more likely to agree to participate in the program, compared to those whose doctors were neutral or pessimistic. They also lost an average of just over 3 kilograms more during the program.

“We know that words matter, and this research shows that this is indeed true, both in the short and long term. Our study shows that subtle differences in communication can have a significant impact on patient outcomes,” Charlotte Albury, one of the researchers in the study, told Newsweek.

In other words, an positive attitude goes a long way—and there is no shortage of positive health benefits to reaching a healthy target weight. Lower blood pressure, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, less joint pain, better sleep, and increased mobility are just some of the health improvements that a healthier lifestyle can bring.

Tips for strengthening your own positive attitude:

1. Believe that you can do it. People who make things happen are more flexible, creative, solution-oriented and generally have a more positive attitude.

2. Be brave. People who make things happen are fearless. They tackle challenges or problems head-on to find a solution.

3. Take action. Don’t wait! A sour attitude drains energy and creates worry, stress, and anxiety. Do what you need to do now—unless there are specific reasons why you should wait.

4. Don’t complain. Action solves problems, complaining locks them in. Complaining and whining trap us in the problem. Complaining looks backward instead of forward. People with the right attitude rarely complain. They realize that it is pointless and avoid putting energy and effort into something that does more harm than good.

5. Take responsibility. A person with the right attitude takes responsibility and consequences for their own actions, instead of blaming others and looking for scapegoats. Someone with the proper positive attitude is mature and behaves maturely when necessary. By behaving maturely, it is easier to see problems and challenges soberly without exaggerating them or getting bogged down.

6. Like the situation. People who make things happen don’t just like success, they also like challenges. They feel that challenges make them strong. That’s when they climb mountains and break down barriers. The smartest person isn’t the one with the highest grades in school or the best IQ test results. It’s the one who does what others don’t bother to do.

7. Do a little more. People with the right attitude aren’t satisfied with an okay solution. They want to solve a challenge over time. They set goals and expectations for themselves that are higher than those of those around them.

8. Stop dwelling and get started. People who make things happen take action. While others are paralyzed by worry, fear, and anxiety, they have the courage to move forward. The perfect moment when everything is safe and working optimally may never come, so why wait for it?

9. Be adaptable. We live in a changing world. Development happens through change. Those who don’t want to change will have a hard time in any workplace. People who can adapt and adopt a positive attitude to change feel better. They don’t complain about obstacles and problems. They see excitement and solutions where others see problems and hopelessness.

10. Be persistent. People who make things happen don’t just initiate and start, they finish and complete. Someone with the right attitude both starts and finishes. Practice persistence. Practice positive attitude.