These days just about everyone has a smart phone, an iPhone or something similar. If you are one of those many people you will have discovered that there are applications, or “app’s” for everything from calorie counting to tracking your physical activity. Do these app’s really make a difference? A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine examined the effectiveness of behavior therapy weight loss podcasts to check just that. The results, well you might be a little surprised.
The study used 28 women and 13 men with an average age of 38, as well as a control group of 29 women and 7 men. The podcast group listened to a 15-20 minute long podcast, cleverly disguised as entertainment, and compared to a soap opera format. The control group listened to straight weight loss advice and positive thinking advice. Both groups consumed the same amount of fatty foods, and most in both groups listened to their podcasts from their desks, rather than while walking or exercising.
The podcast used behavior therapy, and contained exercise, weight loss, goal setting and healthy eating tips. All of the information was reinforced throughout the podcast, while entertaining the participants with its format. The group listened to the podcast for 12 weeks, and reported eating more vegetables and fruits, as well as exercising more frequently and intensely. They were also found to be more educated regarding weight loss by the end of the study. Needless to say, they were also much more satisfied with the outcome of the study.
At the end of the 12 weeks, the behavior therapy podcast group lost an average of more than 2.9 kilograms (6 pounds). The group that listened to the advice podcasts lost less than 0.3 kilograms (1 pound). Podcasts will not magically make you shed pounds or fit into a smaller size of jeans. However, the study clearly supports the behavior therapy model to enhance weight loss. Behavioral therapy in a nutshell enables you to recognize and identify emotional triggers to allow you to find a new way to cope with them. For example, you might comfort eat when you are tired at night. Through this type of therapy you learn to recognize tiredness as a trigger and use a new coping mechanism other than eating to deal with it.
If you are looking for a podcast or app to help you with your weight loss, make sure that the information they use is accurate. Read the product reviews and search them up on the internet. For as much of the great resources available for phones, there are also many out there that are not as effective. Really though, what have you got to lose? And while you are at it, try listening to them while you are up and moving, it can only help your cause!