Changing eating habits, building a figure or losing weight are quite difficult topics. However, any goal is achievable if we are persistent. Support groups help you to better achieve your goals. Find out how effective they are.

Support groups bring people together who are struggling with similar problems. By sharing their own experiences or difficulties, participants not only help themselves but also others. By establishing a relationship with people in a similar situation, we do not feel alone, and this encourages and motivates us to continue.

The impact of a supportive environment and support groups on diet success – a scientific study

Purpose of the study

This was supported by a study involving women aged 18-39 who had children up to five years old. The participants in the study were divided into two groups – an intervention and a comparison group. The aim of the intervention was to investigate whether promoting stress management, as well as healthy eating and physical activity, prevents women from gaining weight. 

Conduct of the study

The intervention lasted 16 weeks. The first four weeks, participants watched a designated video lesson at home once a week and attended an online support group meeting. In the following weeks, this took place every other week.

Results of the study

The results of the study showed that, compared to the reading-only materials, the video materials and the support group meetings had a greater impact on increasing autonomous motivation and self-efficacy in the female participants. In addition, they also influenced a higher decrease in dietary fat intake.

Conclusions of the study – why do support groups help?

Based on the analysis, the researchers identified two psychosocial factors that contributed to the success of the intervention provided. These are autonomous motivation and self-efficacy. The videos that the participants watched were about the stories of women similar to them and their insights on healthy eating, stress management and physical activity. They referred to the participants’ personal values and this was key to their success.

Fitatu® Support Group

If you use the Fitatu app or simply want to start eating healthier and are looking for ways and motivation, join our Fitatu support group on Facebook: Lose weight without hunger or sacrifices using the Fitatu app📲🥑. There you will find motivation by watching inspiring makeovers, support in worse times, as well as ideas for interesting and delicious dishes. Participants also have a real impact on the app’s development by voting in surveys for new features.

Fitatu® App

Download the app from the Play Store or Apple Store and start your path to a healthy figure with us! If you want to reach your goal even faster, bet on Fitatu® Premium.

What do you find in Fitatu® Premium?

• over 2000 recipes plus several new ones every month
• additional plans for intermittent fasting
• the ability to create shopping lists
• a choice of six ready-made menus full of meals to choose
• filtering products and recipes
• more synchronization with fit apps
• access to your Meal Plan in the web version
• no ads!

Bibliography:

1. Mei-Wei Chang, Alai Tan, Jiying Ling, Duane T. Wegener, Lorraine B. Robbins. Mediators of intervention effects on dietary fat intake in low-income overweight or obese women with young children. Appetite, 2020; 151: 104700