|
|
For
Immediate Release |
|
6800 Jericho Turnpike
• Suite 208W • Syosset • NY 11791 |
SURVEY INFORMATION NAVIGATOR
OVERALL
How do you know if a New Year’s resolution is the right way for you to lose weight? In our sample of approximately 600 nationwide respondents, 38.7% report having tried a New Year’s resolution for weight loss. Of these, 40.7% report some short term success, and about half of those reporting short term success (20.9% of all those trying) were able to make the resolution stick for good.
But what distinguishes the success stories from the disappointments? And what kinds of people are most likely to try a New Year’s resolution in the first place?WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MAKE
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS TO LOSE WEIGHT?Personality Factors
People who try New Year's resolutions (“Resolvers”) tend to be sensitive, compassionate, outgoing people who, as compared to those who don’t make these promises (“Non-Resolvers”), more often report considering emotional factors or ‘gut feelings’ when making decisions. (See graph below). They also prefer to work in a group setting (36% vs. 27% of others).To reduce stress they like to read, take classes, remember to laugh at themselves and practice positive thinking. Resolvers also report more time and financial pressures (because of children and family life), and thus also report a greater sense of relief than Non-Resolvers from focusing on time management techniques (particularly learning to reduce procrastination).
New Year's Resolution Makers are More Compassionate,
Sensitive, and Make Decisions with their Gut.
(Numbers shown are percent responding)
Differences in Source of Stress
(Resolvers vs Non-Resolvers)SOURCE RESOLVERS NON-RESOLVERS Financial Problems 3.21 2.97 Time Pressures 3.25 2.99 Problems with Children 2.23 1.85 (Average on a 5 point frequency scale 'How often do you experience
stress from ...' where 1 = 'Almost Never' and 5 = 'Almost All the Time')
Differences in Stress Management Styles
(Resolvers vs Non-Resolvers)ACTIVITY RESOLVERS NON-RESOLVERS Reading 3.67 3.36 Taking Classes 3.51 3.22 Laughing at Self 4.77 4.47 Practice Positive Thinking 4.00 3.70 Reduce Procrastination 4.78 4.56 (Average on a 5 point usefulness scale 'How useful have you found _______ for stress relief stress from ...' where 1 = 'Not at All Useful' and 5 = 'Extremely Useful')
Physical FactorsThose to whom a New Year’s resolution appeals tend to have significantly more weight to lose than Non-Resolvers (an average of 14.59 pounds further away from their stated goal), and to have had a much greater struggle with their weight their entire lives. They have tried more than twice as many diets previously (4.46 vs. 1.8 - see graph), are more likely to report yo-yoing across significant weight ranges (54% vs. 32% of non-resolvers) and are more dissatisfied with their weight (88.8% unhappy vs. 69.2% of non-resolvers). Resolvers also report a greater number of ‘trouble food categories’ (those which cause them to lose control - 3.07 vs. 2.58 on average) and are particularly vulnerable to Sweets, Fatty Foods, Starches, and Fast Food Restaurants (see graph below).
FOODS THAT TRIGGER A BINGE
New Year's Resolution Makers Report More Difficulty Controlling
Themselves with Fatty Food, Starches, and at Fast Food Restaurants
(Numbers shown are percents saying the have difficulty)
RESOLVERS NON-RESOLVERS
Demographic Factors
It seems that, the busier one's life is, the more likely we are to want to make a new year's resolution to lose weight. 44.9% of people with children at home (vs. 37% of those without children) have tried a NYR. This trend increases with the number of kids (one child = 40%, two children = 47%, three or more children = 52%). Also, intriguingly, 49% of dog owners vs only 31% of cat owners have made a NYR. (Perhaps because dogs are more demanding on our time).
Demographic Factors Affecting New Year's Resolutions
(shown below are percent who have tried a NYR)CATEGORY PERCENT MAKING NYRs No Children at Home 37% One Child at Home 40% Two Children at Home 47% Three or More Children at Home 52% Owns a Dog but not a Cat 49% Owns a Cat but not a Dog 31%
WHO ACHIEVES LONG TERM SUCCESS
WITH A NEW YEAR'S WEIGHT LOSS RESOLUTION?Personality Factors
Of the qualities that seem to motivate people to make New Year’s resolutions, it seems that only compassion and a fondness for working with a buddy or in groups distinguishes the successful Resolvers (the “Winners”) from those who broke from the resolution.
Compassion is important as it allows the Resolver to be kind to themselves when mistakes occur. Interest in working with a friend or a group is relevant because Winners seem to make promises with a friend or in groups, and this helps them maintain the commitment. (They are more likely to report using Weight Watchers or ‘the buddy system’).
The other important winning personality traits for successful NYR weight loss turn out to be different than those which motivate the promise in the first place. They turn out to be (not surprisingly) the ability to make and keep commitments and schedules, and being very observant and having a good memory. (Memory and observational skills aid the dieter to watch themselves carefully, remembering exactly what and how much they ate in order to ensure that excess volume is not consumed).
Personality Differences between Successful
and Unsuccessful Resolution Makers
(self-report)TRAIT SUCCEEDERS NON-SUCCEEDERS Values Compassion More Than Objectivity 86% 70% Good with Schedules and Commitments 82% 69% Better Than Average Memory and Ability to Observe Details 76% 61% Likes to Work in a Group 49% 35%
Winning Resolvers are also distinguished from others by their ability to turn to other types of activities for stress relief. In particular: (numbers shown are averages on the five point 'stress relief usefulness' scale referenced previously - successful resolvers vs. unsuccessful resolvers)
Winners Learn Time Management Techniques: Breaking down and prioritizing tasks (4.88 vs 4.61), analyzing how time is actually spent(4.04 vs. 3.72), and getting a good night's sleep (5.31 vs 4.99).
Winners Enjoy Aerobics (3.25 vs 2.78) and Weightlifting (3.0 vs. 2.75): This is probably successful not only for its stress relieving qualities, but also because it boosts their metabolism and provides results more quickly.
- Winners Develop "Psychological Mindedness”: Winning Resolvers seem to either be, or to become more ‘psychologically minded’ and value exploring their inner life to achieve a greater sense of peace, and to relieve the boredom associated with removing some of the stimulation food used to provide for them. Thus we find Winners are more likely to value their dreams (for creative inspiration 73.3% vs 60.2%, stress relief 55.7% vs 46.4%, entertainment 94.5% vs 72.1%, and general pleasure 53.3% vs 39.4%), report enjoying yoga (3.0 vs 2.54), pursuing relaxation training with biofeedback (2.8 vs 2.5), reading self improvement books (5.18 vs 4.82), attending classes (4.06 vs 3.45) and cultural events like theatre and concerts (4.29 vs. 3.73).
Physical Factors
Winning Resolvers seem to be those with less of a weight problem to start with. They reported having much lower adult HIGH weights (the heaviest they ever were after age eighteen - 18.9 pounds lower on average) and much lower adult LOW weights (the thinnest they ever were after age eighteen - 11.7 pounds lower on average). They also report having much less difficulty controlling their intake of salty snacks (20% vs 48%), and starchy foods (33% vs 51%).
While those motivated to try a New Year’s resolution have done MORE dieting in the past (4.46 diets tried previously vs. 1.8 for non-resolvers), those who succeeded with their resolution had tried many FEWER diets previously (3.55 vs 4.23). Finally, winning resolvers were more likely than others to be counting calories (22% vs 10%).
Physical Differences between Successful
and Unsuccessful Resolution MakersSUCCEEDERS NON-SUCCEEDERS The MOST They Ever Weighed After Age 18 180.5 209.4 The LEAST They Ever Weighed After Age 18 134.4 143.4 Number of Diets Tried Previously 3.55 4.23 Percent Who Have Trouble Controlling Intake of Salty Snacks 20% 48% Percent Who Have Trouble Controlling Starchy Foods 33% 51% Counts Calories 22% 10% Demographic Factors
There are NO demographic factors which predict success on a New Year's Weight Loss Resolution. (There ARE factors that distinguish those that try - see previous section).
www.DietTypes.com offers an odds calculator for weight loss success with a new year's resolution. More importantly, by answering a few personality questions you can learn more about which eating philosophy might be best for you (low carb, low fat, calorie counting, or a combination). http://www.DietTypes.com
SURVEY INFORMATION NAVIGATOR
According to a recent 600 person survey conducted nationwide by Executive Solutions Inc., a professional marketing research company serving the Fortune 500 for over 20 years: (Detailed data, tables, and charts at bottom of page. All findings significant at the 95% confidence level or better)
Ø A “Diet Personality” is a unique constellation of psychological traits found to be statistically related to success with various diets. You can find out your Diet Personality at www.DietTypes.com
Ø About 38.7% of the population engages in New Year’s Resolutions (‘NYR’) for weight loss. Of those who try, only 1 in 5 will succeed in the long run, though 40% will have some short term success.
Ø Resolvers (as compared to those who don’t make NYRs) are more sensitive, compassionate, outgoing, and like to make decisions at least partially with their ‘gut’. Resolvers also have more weight to lose, are more unhappy about it, have tried more diets, and struggle more with sweets, fats, and starches. Finally, they experience more financial and time pressures, particularly from their children.
Ø The 1 in 5 that succeed are those with the most compassion for themselves, and a fondness for losing weight with a buddy or a group. They also need good observational skills (to carefully note their eating patterns), a good memory (to ensure they don’t forget how much they have eaten) and most importantly, the ability to make and keep commitments! Winners also had less of a weight problem to start with, and reported fewer food categories that triggered a binge (especially regarding salty snacks and starches).
Ø Winning Resolvers Also:
ü Focus On Time Management Techniques to reduce pressures that might cause them to eat for comfort.
ü Develop Psychological Mindedness: Explore their inner life to relieve the boredom which results from removing the stimulation excess food used to provide. (They read self improvement books, take up yoga, attend classes and cultural events like theatre and concerts, like to remember and work with their dreams, pursue relaxation training and biofeedback.)
ü Exercise: To boost metabolism and relieve stress. They are particularly fond of Aerobics and Strength-training, and were a little more likely to count calories
Ø Should you make a resolution? If you consider yourself a compassionate, outgoing person with good observational skills and good memory, if you presently keep other types of commitments, and if you don’t have an awful lot of weight to lose – you might be the 1 in 5 who will succeed. If you're going to try, do it with a friend or loved one, resolve to learn some new time management skills, and look inward (reading, yoga, etc) to help you with the feelings associated with giving up some yummies. Finally, review your 'eating and exercise philosophy' (a way of life is more likely to be successful than a 'diet'), and make your goals specific aand in writing.
ü What if you don't meet those criteria? Most of what distinguishes successful resolutions from others is actually the same as what predicts weight loss in general. So, rather than making a NYR this year, here are some steps that will help you get ready to make changes that lead to weight mastery:
Identify your trouble foods: Chocolate? Hot Bread? Crispy Chips? Chewy Cookies? Crunchy Nuts? Ice Creamy Dreamies? Some people say it's easier to avoid a couple of high-risk foods that trigger a binge for a while than to try to diet.
Identify emotional and situational “cravings”: Cravings for food are motivated by emotional as well as physical needs. If you can identify the stimulus for wanting a particular eating experience, you may be able to intervene with something less Are you seeking comfort and soothing relaxation? Need to “crunch” through some annoyance or frustration? Want to “chew” something over to figure it out? Wish for something to sweeten a sour day? Maybe there are some great substitutes that will fill the bill without filling out your hips.
Review your eating philosophy and exercise program: Decide to figure out a 'way of life' that you can live with in the long run. (Knowing your Diet Personality can help)
Develop your time management skills: Many people over-eat when time-pressures make them feel like they 'deserve something that feels good for themselves'. Break down and prioritize your tasks. Learn to reduce interruptions. Examine motivations for procrastinating. Time to breathe might satisfy a craving you think only chocolate will remove!
Develop your memory and observational skills: Weight management involves constantly keeping in mind the types of foods eaten as well as the volume. When we have cravings, the mind wants to forget what was eaten previously so that more food or a treat will be justified. A trained memory and persistent self-monitoring are our best weapons. (There are also some external aids available - hand-held nutrition calculators and calorie counters, etc)
Learn to manage stress better: by reading self improvement books, taking classes, learning relaxation exercises, yoga, examining your thoughts, and enjoying movies and theatre more. Seek intellectual stimulation to replace food stimulation.
Ø www.DietTypes.com offers an odds calculator for weight loss success with a new year's resolution. More importantly, by answering a few personality questions you can learn more about which eating philosophy might be best for you (low carb, low fat, calorie counting, or a combination). http://www.DietTypes.com)
SURVEY INFORMATION NAVIGATOR
www.DietTypes.com offers an odds calculator for weight loss success with a new year's resolution. More importantly, by answering a few personality questions you can learn more about which eating philosophy might be best for you (low carb, low fat, calorie counting, or a combination). http://www.DietTypes.com
