What’s more effective than exercise in losing weight and is much easier?

Reading food labels:

This study investigates the use of food labels as a weight loss behavior compared to regular exercise among middle-aged Americans. After controlling for unobserved heterogeneity women were more likely to read food labels than men and also more successful in losing weight. Label users who did not exercise displayed a slightly greater likelihood of weight loss than those who exercised but did not read food labels. Additionally, those who only read labels were more likely to improve their chances of weight loss by adding exercise to their routines rather than abandoning label usage in favor of exercise.

Source: “Use of Food Labels as a Weight Loss Behavior” from Journal of Consumer Affairs, Volume 44, Issue 3, pages 516–527, Fall 2010

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