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• Dieters took photos as well as keeping weekly food and exercise diaries
• Almost three-quarters of dieters reached their target weight in 16 weeks
• Method meant people could submit their results rather than attend classes

Staying motivated to cut out treats and keep on exercising can be the trickiest part of dieting.

But now scientists think they have found the best way for slimmers to stay driven and reach their target weight is by taking photographs.

Making a photo diary was found to be an extremely effective tool when it shedding the pounds, the recent study found.

People had their measurements taken each week including their body mass index and weight to hip ratio.

They also kept food and exercise diaries to record their progress each week.

But in addition to the standard weight loss measures, full body photographs were taken of the participants on a weekly basis.

Isaac Elías Kuzmar Daza, a researcher at the University of Alicante, Spain, who conducted the experiment, found physically seeing the results helped.

He studied the motivation levels of patients on weight loss programmes at a nutrition clinic in Barranquilla, in his native Colombia.

The experiment lasted for 16 weeks and involved participants aged between 16 and 72.

Of the 90 per cent that finished the treatment, 71.3 per cent successfully reached their weight loss objectives while 83.7 per cent had smaller waist measurements.

Researchers found the measurement which proved particularly motivating was waist circumference, one of the most visual elements.

Mercedes Rizo Baeza, Dr Kuzmar Daza's thesis director at the UA, said: 'After all, it is very gratifying to literally see yourself get slimmer over time'.

The majority of patients attending the clinic were motivated by image, rather than an underlying health condition like high cholesterol, diabetes or a heart condition.

Of the 271 participants, 233 were female.

Patients did not need to attend the clinic in person for the programme to be effective, they found.

People were able to call a support line and submit their measurements, as well as send their full-body photographs to the researcher.

Half of participants completed the programme in this way with researchers saying there was no statistical difference in terms of either adherence or weight loss.

'What patients want is a photo, rather than cold numbers,' said Dr Rizo Baeza.

'We used personal image as a variable, and results showed that it was the factor that contributed the most to motivation and had the highest impact on patients' weight loss'.

These photos serve as visual confirmation that all their hard work is paying off, spurring them on to further weight loss.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ocial-facebook