Observing obesity through a cheap lens can be a powerful new way to change your thinking and ultimately get the body you want.
“You can never be too rich or too thin” is an old saying, often attributed to the Duchess of Windsor.
However, here’s what happens: Bodyweight and net worth are really intertwined, and research shows that the more pounds people carry, the less money they will have.
This works on different levels. Let’s say you are a 20 year old obese who is at a healthy weight. According to a 2017 study by Johns Hopkins University, the estimated lifetime savings in health care and productivity would be $ 28,020. For a 50-year-old man, it would be $ 36,278.
Jay Zagorsky, Ph.D., an economist and researcher at Ohio State University, has been examining the weight-wealth relationship for more than a decade. Their 2015 study, published in the Oxford Handbook of Economics and Human Biology, revealed these prices:
· For every half kilo of extra weight gained, 226 dollars of wealth are lost.
· For each earned body mass index point, $ 1,900 of wealth is lost.
So, according to Zagorsky’s calculations, if you are approximately 20 kilos overweight, you are fooling yourself for more than $ 11,000.
Another factor that affects your income: weight discrimination. Previous research has shown that professionals consider heavier employees less desirable as co-workers and bosses. It works both ways: A German study of nearly 18,000 workers found that underweight men earn about 8 percent less than those at the high end of the healthy BMI level. The effect was especially strong in jobs with lower positions.
Of course, no one is waiting to write a check when you reach your target weight. But if you want to lose weight and keep it off, putting money into the equation seems like a smart move. Research shows that money can motivate people towards healthier behavior.
The amount in the game does not even have to be substantial or guaranteed. A study on the Obesity trip found that participants in a weight-loss program who were promised various financial incentives ($ 1 to $ 10 per week) to record their progress on the program’s website decreased by 49 percent more. than those who did not receive cash.
Watching obesity through lenses like these can be a powerful new way to change thinking and ultimately get the body you want, some researchers say.
“Sometimes people need a different and interesting way of thinking about a problem,” says economist Christopher Payne, Ph.D., co-author of The Economists’ Diet: The Surprising Formula for Losing Weight and Keeping It Off. He and his colleague Rob Barnett lost a total of 54 kilos using basic monetary principles.
So, if you want to lose 10, 20 or more than 30 kilos, the application of some economic aspects of behavior could help you take advantage. Payne and Barnett are living proof that the strategy works. Here is how to do it.
Ignore supply, cut demand
“The economy was helpful to us because it provides the best explanation for being overweight,” explains Payne. “There is an excess of high-calorie foods that are sold at low prices. Supply creates its own demand, which means that many of us overeat.”
A good example is service stores. A recent Dartmouth study found that members shop more often and buy at least 3,000 more calories per month than traditional supermarket shoppers. In view of the overwhelming supply, we are increasing our demand.
To break this cycle, keep in mind that scarcity and abundance are perception, not reality, says Barnett. “We found that we really didn’t need all the food we perceived to be necessary. Three square meals a day, which most people consider normal, was too much. Once we realized that our perceptions were wrong, eating smaller meals every day it was easier. “
Invest in the long term
It may seem like a good idea to go for larger “value” meals and cheap, high-calorie foods; That way you feel like you are maximizing your calorie intake for each weight spent and possibly saving money as well. But in the long run it will cost you more. Obesity and persistent excess weight are the leading cause of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; Treatments for these and other obesity-related illnesses will ultimately be very expensive. Resist promotions and cheap offers; it is a false economy.
See the weight as debt
Imagine your doctor emailing you a statement every month, just like your credit card company does. Showing everything you bought (calories) and what you owe to zero your energy balance. You could make a minimal payment, but that would leave the remaining calories in compound, and we’ve all been down that unfortunate path. So after your next indulgence weekend or summer vacation, measure the damage and immediately resume exercise and healthy eating to pay off your debt. Make your goal every month. Think of it as a balance to your waist.
Check the market every day
Economists are all data. That’s why Payne and Barnett weigh each other every morning. “We discovered that our bodies are incredibly reactive with what we eat every day,” says Payne. “We can see one day’s eating behavior on the scale the next morning. Without being able to gauge our eating behavior with our weight, we never would have understood how little we need to eat.”
Example: Barnett realized that eating pizza, more than any other food, affected his weight in the morning. Now, monitor how often you eat pizza and maintain your weight loss. “We stayed in good feeding behavior because the scale number that morning was firmly implanted in our minds,” says Payne.
Get to know your weight gain enemies (for example, drinking beer, Sunday dinner at mom’s house) and then write them down.
Announce your earnings
Letting the world know your weight loss goals can help you achieve them. A study found that using a social media platform to announce your progress can help you lose more pounds. It keeps the pressure on you to continue the program, and all virtual copies provide an additional incentive.
Pretend you’re losing money
For some, it may be better to change the weight loss financial equation. Instead of focusing on how much your net worth will increase if you drop some pant sizes, try to focus on the cash you are losing or will lose, due to obesity-related issues. A 2016 study found that among overweight or obese adults, financial incentives for physical activity were most effective when framed as a monetary loss.