According to a survey conducted by the teleconsultation company Zava, the French are looking to lose weight primarily for health and aesthetic reasons.
- The teleconsultation company ZAVA conducted a survey of 4,000 people over the age of 18 who had already been on a diet.
- For 35% of them, health was the main source of motivation.
- 34% of participants went on a diet for aesthetic reasons.
Nearly one in two French people have already been on a diet, according to Ipsos. But why are they trying to lose weight? ZAVA teleconsultation company asked the question to 4,000 adults over the age of 18. Using a survey, they sought to decipher “The reasons that motivate the French to take steps to transform their physical appearance”.
What drives the French to start a diet?
All participants had tried to lose weight at least once. After analyzing their answers, the authors of this survey found that the main motivation of the respondents was health (35% of respondents). The latter mentioned “an awareness triggered by a discussion with a health professional”. Aesthetics is the second explanation for the desire to lose weight (34% of respondents): participants cite as triggering factors “the desire to flirt”of ““meet people” or a “new relationship”. The third motivation mentioned was the improvement of their daily lives. Then, they cited the desire to be a role model for their loved ones (11% of respondents), especially children, and the desire to please someone else (6% of respondents).We are talking here about changing at the explicit desire of the other, as opposed to imposing a change perceived as necessary to seduce or please.”warn the authors of the report.
Weight loss: improving your health, a motivating factor to persevere
They asked participants to identify what helped them maintain their new eating habits.L‘improvement of general health’is cited by 21% participants, – particularly among the over 60 years old– as the main motivation to maintain efforts”they observe. External recognition is the second factor, with about 18% of respondents citing it.Receiving compliments, feeling the pride of those around them and the recognition of the path taken or in progress… There is an increased desire to reaffirm their attractiveness and to reconnect with an active social life”the authors say. On the other hand, weight does not seem to be a worrying factor. Only 5% of those surveyed say they are interested in it.Surprising, but rather justified, because the weight displayed does not necessarily reflect the percentages of fat and muscle mass”they comment.
Weight loss: beware of ““miracle diets”
Overall, one in two respondents said they had not maintained their efforts beyond two years. Repeated dietary deviations were the most frequently cited reason, but hunger was also often cited.A rebalancing of food as part of weight loss must take into account the person’s established habits and offer alternatives, warns Dr Sophie Albe-Ly, general practitioner at ZAVA. Of course, there usually has to be a reduction in calories for the approach to work, but it’s more about eating differently and offering preferable alternatives to the bad habits in place rather than being in hyper restriction. Otherwise, you don’t get results over time.”
We must therefore be wary of the ““miracle diets”which make you lose weight quickly, recalls theHealth Insurance. “The weight is often regained just as quickly, or almost, as soon as the diet ends (this is the ‘yo-yo’ effect).warns the body. Furthermore, diets that rely on less diversified eating habits can be responsible for nutritional deficiencies (calcium, vitamins, etc.).”
