Observing food labels and exercising may help you lose weight

Washington, Sept 9 (ANI): A new study suggests that observing food labels may lead to weight loss, especially for women entering their middle years.

Using information on whether consumers read food labels the first time they buy a product, the research finds that people who observe the labels and do not exercise display a slightly greater likelihood of weight loss than those who do exercise but do not pay attention to food labels.

By simply adding an exercise routine to their lifestyle regular food label readers can increase their changes of losing weight. Women between the ages of 37-50 years are more likely to read food labels than men, and are therefore more likely to lose weight.

Previous research has focused on food marketing and behaviour but has not followed related weight loss over time in this middle-aged demographic group.

The data for this study was taken from a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth compiled from 2002-2006. The survey began in 1979 with over 12,000 male and female participants born in the years 1957-1964.

Over fifty percent of participants reported that they were trying to lose or control weight. Of these participants, almost seventy percent were obese or overweight.

Almost fifty percent were actively reading food labels on their first time purchase and slightly more than twenty-five percent were actively participating in vigorous exercise. Overall, older individuals are less likely to lose weight by reading food labels, and general participation in vigorous exercise drops off after age forty-five.

The study has been published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs. (ANI)