Nobody likes cutting calories, but those who can stick to their diet eventually notice the benefits in the form of a smaller waistline. But a slimmer physique isn’t the only perk of a healthy diet. According to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine, individuals who ate fewer calories over the course of two years had more energy during the day and in the bedroom.
To shine a light on the total benefits of cutting calories, researchers studied a group of 218 individuals over the course of two years. Half of the group cut their total calorie intake by 25 percent for two years, while the other group stuck to their normal eating patterns. Activity levels and mood were measured throughout the study, and at the conclusion of the two years, researchers uncovered that those who cut calories reported:
- An average loss of 10 percent of their body weight, or about 16.5 pounds.
- An improved quality of life.
- Better sleep quality
- Improved sexual function
- Brighter moods
Study first author Corby Martin said that when people stuck to their diet, they noticed the benefits of weight loss extended beyond dropping a few jean sizes.
“What people report is that after they ‘get over the hump’ and start to lose weight, their hunger levels subside a bit and they start to feel the benefits of the weight loss,” said Martin. “They find it easier to move around, their joints hurt less, they feel better.”
Although the benefits are clear, Martin understands that sticking to a diet, especially over the course of two years, is no easy task. He said it’s easy to fall into bad habits, but the long-term benefits are undeniable.
“Even though they achieve those benefits, it is just really hard to adhere to these diets over the long term, at least in today’s society,” Martin says. “They’re minnows trying to swim upstream, in a world where it’s very easy to overconsume calories.”
Martin also noted that some people went back to their old eating habits after the study, while others stuck to their reduced eating plan and kept the weight off. He plans to issue a formal analysis of the follow up study in the near future.