SET SQUAD GOALS TO FAT BURNING
Your WhatsApp group chat is the motivational tool you need for maximum fat burning before summer charges up
You may no longer be going to Benidorm, but research says the holiday WhatsApp group could still unlock your lean ambitions
Group chats have become a modern necessity: they keep you in touch with friends and provide instant feedback on that unmissable meme you just shared. What’s more, recent science suggests that these hotbeds of banter could aid you in your battle against the bulge, as you gear up for your annual pilgrimage to sand and sea. Either that, or self-isolation in your back-garden sun trap.
According to a study at Brown University, participants in a team-based weight-loss competition influenced each other’s results. This suggests that success in shedding unwanted pounds is shared. However, that doesn’t mean you have to shuffle into the
local Slimming World session: your virtual WhatsApp group should be just as effective IRL.
Individuals who reported higher levels of “teammate social influence” – in other words, camaraderie and encouragement – increased their odds of achieving clinically significant weight loss by 20%. The study’s team captains also lost more weight than other members, most likely as a result of their extra motivation. So, take responsibility for setting up the group yourself to kick-start your progress.
Start by asking members to keep a food diary and post it at the end of the week. Maintaining detailed records of your food intake can double your weight loss, an effect attributed to the accountability it provides. Combine that with the willingness of your friends to call you out for your mid-morning yum-yum habit, and you’re a swipe and an emoji away from a beach/garden-ready physique.