Naples Sun Times

Losing weight better with two heads

By: Mimi Gibbons

November 22, 2006

You say you want to lose weight? Do you have a supportive husband? Wife? Friend? Co-worker?

A "diet coach" who boosts the dieters' morale can help the dieter lose more weight than he or she could alone. David R. Black, as associate professor of Purdue University Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation Studies, conducted studies on both male and female dieters. His conclusions were that those with supportive partners lost up to 30 percent more weight during a l5-month period than their counterparts did without coaches.

"There is an exciting implication here," said Black. "It looks like it might be very valuable to focus on pairs of people when studying diet effectiveness."
Also interesting, according to Black, was that the diet coaches also wound up shedding pounds too, even though they didn't formally participate in a weight-loss program like that of their partners. The rate of weight loss among the coaches varied according to the amount each was overweight.

"As might be expected," Black said, "overweight diet helpers lost more weight than those of normal weight."

There is a potential downside of this however. Just as diet coaches can help their partners lose weight and vice-versa, a dieter or coach who is gaining pounds can pull his partner right up the scale with him.

"One couple we tracked over a l6-year period showed an amazing correlation in their weight gain and loss pattern," Black said. "Each spouse gained and lost weight proportionally to the other." Black also noted that "observations made in twelve studies show us that there is an advantage for the person who is losing weight to involve their partner in their weight loss program."

So if you are thinking about starting a diet, it might be a good idea to look around and see who would be a supportive partner. You might find yourself increasing your odds of diet success by 30 percent!