Two key factors in keeping the weight off

A new study shows that the two biggest factors in keeping weight off after you've lost it are stepping on a scale daily and telling someone that you're trying to keep off the weight.

The statistics in the study were pretty impressive: people who weighed themselves every day were 82% less likely to regain their lost weight than people who did not!

The second key factor is reinforcement, according to the lead researcher in the study, Dr. Rena Wing. While you're actively losing weight, you get lots of reinforcement through compliments, baggier clothes, and being able to track your progress. But after you've reached your target weight and are just trying to maintain it, reinforcement is harder to come by. That's why joining a support group or even just telling your friends and family that you're working hard to keep the weight off can make a real difference.