Scale back bodyfat

Muscle & Fitness, April, 2009 by Jim Stoppani, Mark Thorpe

Regularly stepping on the scale has gotten a bum rap over the years. Many psychologists believe it can create an unnecessary preoccupation with bodyweight that can allegedly contribute to a low self-image and eating disorders. Yet a literature review conducted by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and University of Minnesota and published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity concluded that "frequent self-weighing, at the very least, seems to be a good predictor of moderate weight loss, less weight regain or the avoidance of initial weight gain in adults."

Take-Home Tip: Don't shy away from the locker-room scale. Weighing yourself often--even daily--can help keep extra pounds off.

EDITED BY JIM STOPPANI, PHD, AND MARK THORPE