SYDNEYSIDE WITH JANET PARR Counting the cost of losing weight

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 12

SYDNEYSIDE WITH JANET PARR Counting the cost of losing weight

If you want to get the kilos off. count your cash and not the calories. That seems to be the message of a study done in Adelaide, which compares the results in weight reduction achiexed hv a commercial organisation with a fairly high entry cost and those of the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s obesity clinic—which is free.

The commercial organisaition. Weight Watchers International. was twice as successful as the hospital clinic. The Medical Journal of Australia published the results of the study, which showed that the average total weight loss for all the hospital patients was 4.2 kg. in females and 6kg. in males. Weight Watchers members had an average loss of 8.2 kg. for females and 10.4 kg. for males. The percentage of members losing more than 9 kg. was nearly double that of the clinic patients and the percentage who made their “goal weight” many times greater. Group therapy Clinic patients were treated with drugs and other therapies. Weight Watchers members use group therapy, diet and self-determination. Dr A. E. Williams, of the obesity clinic, and Dr B. Duncan, of the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science in Adelaide, described the commercial results as excellent. They said also that the high cost of entry to that organisation undoubtedly deterred those without reasonable motivation and would serve as a

continuing incentive to “get value for money.” Those who found they could not lose weight either because thev did not keep to the diet or because they did not lose weight on it, would tend to drop out quickly as most people were loath to pay money for nothing. The founder-director of Weight Watchers Australia (Mr Richard Jamieson) agreed. “There does seem to be some relation between paying and succeeding,” he said. “The money seems to be a good incentive.” And the Australian organisation, he said, had the second highest retention rate of the group in the world. The organisation uses a fair amount of psychology about food — like putting smaller helpings on smaller plates and getting “food hogs” to slow down. Another group that has started up in Sydney also has a preoccupation with food. Weight loss is not the prime aim, although it is often the end result of its group therapy sessions. Addicts

This one is Overeaters Anonymous, founded in the United States 16 years ago and in Sydney last December. The Svdney branch is still small, but a Melbourne branch now has about 80 members.

Like Alcoholics Anonymous and the other “anonymous” organisations, it seeks to help people with an overpowering problem of overaddiction — this time to eating. The aim is to help people

to rid themselves of their compulsion to eat. One woman used to take food from the garbage can. Now she has her problem partly under control and has lost two and a half stone. Most members have lost at least a stone. One used to steal to buy chocolate; others have admitted they would eat until they made themselves sick — then start again.

They begin by admitting that they are powerless about food once they take the first bite. Meetings are conducted as group therapy with members getting up and talking about their problem. Like Alcoholics Anonymous, they rely heavily on being able to get in touch with other members whenever the craving for food grips them unbearably. They have no strict diet, just suggested guidelines for eating and a policy of three moderate meals a day. The organisation is noncommercial. Members pass the hat round to raise their small running expenses.