This may be the perfect month to begin dieting and lose weight as shown by a study from Oxford researchers.
There’s a myriad of weight loss approaches, each with distinct timelines dictating when one should or shouldn’t eat. However, is there an ideal month to kick-start a diet and shed some pounds?
Contrary to popular belief, the summer season may not be the best time for weight reduction attempts.
In fact, January, when the spirit of new year’s resolutions is high, was identified as the most beneficial month to kick-start a diet.
The investigation revealed that the worst times to diet were during the months of July and August, typically the height of summer when there is a tendency towards overindulgence due to summer holidays.
This groundbreaking study analyzed individuals participating in the NHS Diabetes Prevention Program, who were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It offered insights into monthly weight loss trends.
The data depicted that individuals who started dieting in July and August lost an average of 1.65 kg and 1.61 kg respectively, in contrast to the annual average loss of 2 kg.
Those who chose January as the genesis of their diet experienced an average loss of 2.54 kg.
Remarkably, the data demonstrated that diets undertaken during the initial six months of the year were more efficacious, with an average weight loss of 2.28 kg, while the latter half of the year saw a reduced average weight loss of 1.77 kg.
Although the participants’ starting weights were relatively lower during the summer, the researchers concluded that January still proved to be the most advantageous month for weight loss after accounting for this factor.
During July and August, the average weight loss was around 1.9% of the total body weight, the lowest compared to other months. In contrast, January witnessed a 2.9% decline in total body weight for those partaking in the six-month program, which included approximately eight sessions.
While the study didn’t delve into the reasons behind these monthly fluctuations, the researchers speculate that motivation plays a critical role.
Dr. Dimitrios Koutoukidis, the study’s principal investigator and a senior research fellow at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, said, “Our best hypothesis is that people are more motivated to lose weight in January, because it is typically seen as a “fresh start” and people make new year’s resolutions.”
This translates into higher engagement levels with the program, resulting in more weight loss. The researchers adjusted for the initial weight, confirming that the higher starting weight in January is not the cause of this trend.
Although this might encourage many to take on New Year’s resolutions to limit calories, it’s important to acknowledge that maintaining the weight loss might be challenging for some.
The British Dietetic Association has cautioned that obsessing over weight loss in January might have detrimental psychological effects for some individuals.
This research involved the analysis of 85,000 overweight participants at risk for type 2 diabetes, who were enrolled in the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme initiated in 2016.
The program, known for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by over a third, provides periodic guidance, both in-person and online, on adopting healthier eating habits and increasing physical activity.
The findings, published in the Obesity journal, emphasized that commencing the program in January correlated with the highest weight loss, with up to 30% more weight loss compared to other months.
In the study, the researchers noted that commencing the program in November or August yielded significantly less weight loss compared to January. They inferred that this difference is partly due to higher session attendance and a higher probability of program completion among those beginning in January.
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