Want to lose weight? Set tough targets

SLIMMERS lose twice as much weight if they set themselves more ambitious targets, research has found.

A study of more than 24,000 dieters found that those with the toughest goals lost almost a fifth of their weight over 12 months – roughly double that of those who set lower targets.

Professor Amanda Avery, a nutritionist at Nottingham University, said: ‘This research shows that, when it comes to losing weight, it’s best to inspire people to set the weight loss target they would personally really like to achieve.

‘This will help with their motivation as, if it is really their dream weight, they’ll be far more committed to achieving it.’

The research, which was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, found that those who aimed to shed 10 per cent of their body weight typically lost 11 per cent.

But slimmers who set themselves more ambitious targets lost an average of 19 per cent of their body weight.

The study’s participants were Slimming World members with a body mass index of at least 30, which classified them as obese.

Hollie Barrett, 30, from Blundeston in Suffolk, was 17st 11lb at her heaviest and lost 8st 6lb. She said: ‘My confidence was really low. I felt like my weight was holding me back in every aspect of my life.

‘I set myself that high target, committed to following the plan 100 per cent and in my first week I lost nine-and-a-half pounds! From there I haven’t looked back.’