Weight loss ‘can be boosted 5-times – simply by imagining it

Obese people who used a new motivational technique called Functional Imagery Training (FIT) lost an average of five times more weight than those using talking therapy alone. This was revealed by new research published today by the University of Plymouth and Queensland University of Technology.

In addition, users of FIT lost 4.3cm more around their waist circumference in six months—and continued to lose weight after the intervention had finished.

Led by Dr Linda Solbrig from the School of Psychology, the research involved 141 participants, who were allocated either to FIT or Motivational Interviewing (MI).

The latter is a technique that involves a counsellor supporting someone to develop, highlight and talk about their need or motivation for change, and their reasons for wanting to change.

Functional Imagery Training goes one step further than MI, as it makes use of multisensory imagery to explore these changes by teaching subjects to practice motivational imagery themselves. Everyday behaviours and optional phone app support are used to continue imagery practice until it becomes a habit.

Most people agree that in order to lose weight, you need to eat less and exercise more, but in many cases, people simply aren’t motivated enough to heed this advice – however much they might agree with it

The study showed how after six months, people who used the FIT intervention lost an average of 4.11kg, compared with an average of 0.74kg among the MI group.

After 12 months – six months after the counselling was over – the FIT group continued to lose weight, with an average of 6.44kg weight loss compared with 0.67kg in the MI group.

“Most people agree that in order to lose weight, you need to eat less and exercise more, but in many cases, people simply aren’t motivated enough to heed this advice – however much they might agree with it” said the lead researcher of study Dr Solbrig.

“As well as being delighted by the success of the study in the short term, there are very few studies that document weight loss past the end of treatment, so to see that people continued to lose weight despite not having any support shows the sustainability and effectiveness of this intervention,” added the researchers.