Could your camera phone help you lose weight? One study seems to suggest so.
When people in a small study snapped a picture of everything they ate for 1 week, something interesting happened. They took better stock of their meals -- and ate less or ate more healthfully because of it.
Snap Your Way to Slimmer Hips
Just think of it as a digital version of a food diary -- but better -- because it forces you to think about what you're eating before you put it in your mouth, instead of after. With written food diaries, it's too late -- people log their choices after the fact.
Worth 1000 Words (and Calories)
In the study, the simple act of taking a picture caused people to pay closer attention to how much they were eating, how diverse their food choices were, or how healthful the food was. And that extra thought and attention actually helped them eat better. Here are some more slim-down tricks to try:
- Pace yourself. Find out how eating slowly can help you eat less.
- Be regular. Here's why you don't want to skip meals.
Medically reviewed in September 2019.
