What gets someone to loose weight? It’s a question worth a million dollars, as our nation is overrun with people suffering from obesity and medical costs in the US rise.
The obesity epidemic has been attempted to be stopped by health officials and strategies that don’t seem to be making much impact have been implemented into elementary schools. Is banning chocolate milk and lowering the soda size really the answer?
A new study from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity gives a new perspective on why some of these implemented changes work better than others. Not surprisingly, creating positive emotions in people with obesity is a large part of the solution.
The photo above is a message put out by Georgia’s anti-obesity campaign. While it might be blunt and to the point, the stance is a little stern. Not surprisingly, the study found that messages like these and other stern ads and billboards put out by anti-obesity campaigns do no more than elicit shame, an unhelpful emotion that does very little to get the desired results. What’s needed instead is motivation that creates a positive behavior change. Emotions such as shame, humiliation, and stress often create more over eating, too much embarrassment to go to the gym and lack of enthusiasm to make a change.
Messages rather that promote personal empowerment, rather than mention obesity, seem to be more effective. 85% of the participants in the study said they were motivated to change by the slogan, “Eat well. Move more. Live longer.” “Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day” also received a good response.
In summary, negativity is defeating and not the solution while optimism and positivity is empowering and motivating. How can you positively motivate someone today?
Phoebe Jenkins 