Photo diaries give dieters a guilt trip

THE EVIDENCE: A study has shown that people trying to lose weight stick to their diet more carefully if they take photos of what they eat.

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A new "see food" diet could help shift that spare tyre, with the simple click of a camera giving dieters a guilt trip before they tuck into food.

A study has shown that slimmers who take photographs of their meals stick more carefully to their diet than others.

New Scientist reported that dieters who watched what they ate through the eyes of a camera lens were guilt- tripped into avoiding unhealthy food and encouraged to think about what they put into their mouths.

But a Wellington dietician describes the idea as "wacky" and can't see people gobbling up the concept.

American scientists compared traditional food diaries, which list all the food consumed throughout a day, with snapshots, getting 43 dieters to record what they ate over one week in words and photos.

When quizzed, the volunteers said the photo diaries were a more effective and accurate record of daily calories and provided a powerful disincentive to overeat. The scientists said written diaries were often completed long after the meal and did not create as powerful a reminder of the quantity and quality of food that was eaten. One volunteer said the photo diaries had shown she was not eating enough fruit and vegetables.

Dietetic Association executive director Jan Milne said dieters were unlikely to latch on to the idea because it did not fit in with fast-paced lifestyles. A more effective way to lose weight was to eat regularly throughout the day and drink plenty of water, she said. "Losing weight is a long-term thing. It won't just disappear overnight."

- © Fairfax NZ News