Food diary boosts weight loss

Portland, Ore. -- U.S. researchers said a new study suggests tracking daily food consumption in a journal can double a person's weight loss.

The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research, included nearly 1,700 participants who were asked to follow a low-fat diet, attend weekly group sessions and exercise at moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes a day. After six months, the average weight loss was approximately 13 pounds. More than two-thirds of the participants lost at least nine pounds,

"The more food records people kept, the more weight they lost," said lead author Jack Hollis. "Those who kept daily food records lost twice as much weight as those who kept no records. It seems that the simple act of writing down what you eat encourages people to consume fewer calories."

The findings are published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.