Health

Study Finds Keeping A Food Diary Really Works

DENVER (CBS4) ― Having trouble losing weight? Try keeping a diary of the food eaten throughout the day.

Keeping a food diary could double weight loss, according to a new study. The study is one of the largest and longest running.

Kathryn Thompson starting exercising and following a healthy diet 15 months ago and it definitely paid off.
"I've lost 55 pounds," she said.

She eats fruits, vegetables and low fat foods, but jotting it all down may be part of the secret to Thompson's success. She's kept a food diary from day one.

"If I have to write down what I'm eating sometimes I make better choices about what I'm eating," Thompson said. "I might skip that pastry that I might have been thinking about if I have to write it down."

Kathryn isn't alone. Kaiser Permanente studied 1,700 people for six months. They were asked to follow a heart-healthy diet, attend weekly group sessions, exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes a day and keep a food diary. Researchers found those who kept daily food records lost twice as much as those who kept no records.

"Those who kept a food diary made themselves accountable to something even if it's just a piece of paper," Rima Kleiner with Kaiser Permanente said.

It doesn't have to be formal. Scribbling on anything will do. It's the process that gets results.

"It's going from mindless eating to mindful eating," Kleiner said. "Just being more aware of what you're putting into your mouth."

For Thompson, writing has helped her weight management and more.

"It's just made a big difference in my life," she said.

Before her lifestyle change she could hardly walk because her sciatica was so bad. She was also taking pills to go to sleep. Now she's running and jogging.

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