Steady meals and weekend calories tied to greater weight loss, study finds

In a Health Psychology study of 112 adults in a behavioral weight‑loss program, researchers found that eating the same meals and maintaining a consistent daily calorie intake led to greater weight loss than a highly varied diet. Each 100‑calorie daily fluctuation reduced weight loss by about 0.6%; participants who repeated more than half of their weekly foods lost about 5.9% of body weight versus 4.3% for those with a more varied diet. Additionally, those who logged higher weekend calories tended to lose more weight. The findings support building routines around go‑to meals, tracking intake for mindfulness and accountability, and rotating foods within groups to preserve enjoyment and gut diversity. GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs exist and are popular, but behavioral strategies remain effective.