People who weigh themselves daily are more likely to lose a greater amount of weight than individuals who only check how much they weigh occasionally, according to a new study.
Research carried out over a two-year period at Cornell University led to the discovery that daily weighing is particularly effective for men, allowing them to lose more weight than their female counterparts.
To make this finding, 162 participants were recruited and divided into two groups, with half of the individuals given a set target to lose one per cent of their body weight over a ten-day period. Once this had been achieved, the target was then increased to ten per cent, with those taking part given the choice to lose the weight however they wished.
Yet it was found that those who weighed themselves every single day, alongside eating healthily and exercising regularly, lost significantly more weight than those who only weighed themselves sporadically.
The results of the research showed that the individuals who weighed themselves daily and successfully lost ten per cent of their body weight during the first year of the study were more easily able to keep this weight off throughout the second year than their counterparts who did not regularly check their weight.
Doctors believe this is a significant discovery, as previous research has shown that around 40 per cent of the weight that people lose is usually regained after 12 months, with 100 per cent of the total lost being put back on within five years.
In addition, although the weight loss programme worked for both men and women, the researchers noted that males were more likely to successfully keep weight off by stepping on the scales daily than females.
David Levitsky, senior author of the study and a professor of nutrition and psychology, explained how easy this method can be to follow.
'You just need a bathroom scale and an excel spreadsheet or even a piece of graph paper,' he said.
'We think the scale acts as a priming mechanism, making you conscious of food and enabling you to make choices that are consistent with your weight.'