weight loss and behavioral economics

we can draw a lesson on how to use behavioral economics to lose weight. Unfortunately, the lesson is a disappointing one. Behavioral economics has not proven itself up to the task of helping people lose weight and maintain that weight loss. That is no criticism of behavioral economics. As a behavioral scientist, I frequently draw upon the insights of behavioral economics in my own research.

The real problem here is not economics or behavioral economics or psychology. It is obesity. Losing weight is insanely hard to do. And keeping weight off is even harder.

My guess is that no combination of behavioral interventions will ever be up to the task of helping adults lose weight and keep that weight off. Instead, we probably need to wed these behavioral interventions to some kind of biologic treatments, some kind of medical interventions that affect metabolism or that influence people’s neural reward systems. We need to find ways to help people not only lose weight, but that also help them avoid regaining that weight. It is time to shift our efforts from behavior change to habit formation, from weight loss to sustained weight loss!