NSW: Mind power the key to weight loss

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2005
NSW: Mind power the key to weight loss

Eds: Embargoed until 0100 AEDT Sunday, December 11



SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - The key to losing weight is mental exercise and not hitting the
gym, new research shows.

Newspoll surveyed 700 adults across five major cities and found 65 per cent believed
they had not been able to shed unwanted kilos because they were unable to give up bad
habits.

Sixty seven per cent said they failed because they did not want it badly enough.

Asked what needed to be done to successfully lose weight and keep it off for good,
91 per cent of respondents said it required a change in diet while 85 per cent cited exercise.

Only eight per cent thought a change in attitude was important before they could finally
chuck out the bathroom scales.

Jane Waterhouse, general manager of Weight Watchers Australasia, which commissioned
the study, said people had to be prepared psychologically if they wanted to lose weight.

"These figures highlight that although Australians are trying to manage their weight
they lack the psychological tools to enforce behaviour change," Ms Waterhouse said.

"They are aware of their bad habits and that these habits need to change, yet this
is the last thing they are concerned about and it should be the first."

This was why so many New Year resolutions to lose weight fail, she said.

AAP tr/evt/de

KEYWORD: WEIGHT (EMBARGOED)

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