Realistic Weight loss goals - Does it matter?

One of the common ideas out there is that it is important to set "realistic" weight loss goals otherwise people become frustrated and end up losing less weight. 

​While this sounds intuitive and seems to make sense what do the actual studies show?

According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that opposite of what you think may be true:

Several studies have shown that more ambitious goals are sometimes associated with better weight-loss outcomes. Furthermore, two studies showed that interventions designed to improve weight-loss outcomes by altering unrealistic goals resulted in more realistic weight-loss expectations but did not improve outcomes.

If losing weight and getting healthier is one of your New Year's resolution then keep in mind that setting "realistic" goals may not always be the best motivator. 

Of course, each individual case is different and the advice in this post should not substitute for getting a consultation with your doctor. 

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