A new study has found that a massive 85% of unsuccessful weight loss attempts may be due to unacknowledged emotional eating habits.
Top specialists have pinpointed the six most frequent mistakes dieters make in their attempt to shed pounds.
Experts at Food Label Maker suggest that our neurological influence might be the key to overcoming common obstacles and achieving lasting weight loss.
They’ve explored how our brains influence eating habits and provide simple ‘hacks’ to help avoid common dieting mistakes. By understanding the connection between brain science and nutrition, it can help manage emotional triggers, meal timing, and self-tracking, which are key to reaching your goals.
These revelations demonstrate that by understanding our brain’s reaction to food, we can turn everyday adjustments into permanent lifestyle changes.
Skipping Meals
Dodging meals is the top error people commit, which messes with the brain’s innate cues, complicating the ability to tell real hunger from mere cravings.
Studies indicate that it takes around 3-4 weeks of regular meal schedules for your brain to establish healthier eating routines, eventually making these healthy eating habits second nature.
Not Being Patient
Jumping into severely calorie-restricted diets often leads to muscle loss and a slower metabolism, marking yet another widespread mistake when it comes to weight loss.
Evidence shows that people who make small lifestyle changes are three times more likely to maintain their weight loss than those who try extreme diets.
Failing to Plan Ahead
Without a proper plan in place, individuals often fall back on unhealthy, impulsive choices, making this one of the most common mistake in weight loss.
Maria from Food Label Maker explains that: “when we’re rushed or tired, we typically reach for whatever’s easiest but with simple preparation, the healthiest choice becomes the easiest.”
Small steps like pre-washing fruits or preparing meals in advance can encourage healthier decisions.
Neglecting to Track Portions
Even healthy foods require portion control. Food Label Maker believes that not tracking portions is among the most frequent weight loss mistakes.
While nutritious options like nuts, avocados, and olive oil provide significant benefits, they are calorie-dense and can lead to unintended weight gain. There are many tracking tools which can assist in achieving appropriate portion sizes for your body’s needs.
Overlooking the Importance of Protein
Protein plays a crucial role in successful weight loss.
Many people make the common mistake of neglecting this essential nutrient. It regulates key satiety hormones like ghrelin and leptin, which help maintain hunger.
Studies show that diets with 20–30% protein intake help preserve muscle mass and maintain healthy metabolism rates.
Ignoring Emotional Triggers.
When we’re stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, leading to cravings for unhealthy foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. However, many people trying to lose weight fail to recognise these emotional triggers.
To break this cycle, it’s essential to acknowledge how stress affects our eating habits. Techniques such as taking deep breaths before meals or eating mindfully can help us reconnect genuine hunger signals.
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Maria AbiHanna from Food Label Maker noted: “Understanding how your brain works reveals how small daily changes create lasting effects in weight management.
By recognising how stress and hunger signals influence behaviour, you can develop habits—like regular meals or enjoyable exercise—that naturally become part of your lifestyle.”
She highlights that these mindful adjustments can “create the foundation for long-term physical health and mental well-being, moving beyond quick fixes.”
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