This is how much weight you need to lose if you want anyone to notice
It’s the question people have been asking themselves for years. How much weight do you need to lose for anyone to notice?
According to a new study from the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, it’s around eight to nine pounds. But, if you’re hoping for people to find you more attractive, you’ll need to lose nearly double that.
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The face “is a robust indicator of one’s health,” said Nicholas Rule, an associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Social Perception and Cognition at the University of Toronto, said in a university news release. “Increased facial adiposity [fat content] is associated with a compromised immune system, poor cardiovascular function, frequent respiratory infections and mortality. So, even a small decrease can improve one’s health.”
For the study, researchers pulled together a series of photos of men and women in their 20s and 30s. Creating duplicates, they then altered images to show a gradual gaining of weight. The altered photos were shown to research participants who were asked to determine which face was heavier, allowing scientists to identify how much change was required for a noticeable difference. In addition, they had participants rate when the faces became more attractive and found that on average, this occurred after 14 pounds had been removed.
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“When it comes to incentives for weight loss, some people are more motivated to look attractive than to improve their health,” says study co-author Daniel Re.
By understanding the kind of weight loss required to create a change in physical perception, researchers may be in a better position to help individuals who are struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What do you think of this weight loss perception study? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
