AN online quiz is helping Australians better understand and maintain their diet mindset in the new year.
The free, personalised tool has been released by the CSIRO as part of an ongoing program that helps Australians combat motivation slumps as they bid to get healthier.
The Start Strong Diet Quiz is based on psychology and behavioural science.
It assesses participants' values and readiness for change, then provides a motivational map to help them reach their goals.
An analysis of over 11,000 of the program's newest members found that most people entered the it with high levels of motivation and commitment.
Among members, 93 per cent were motivated to lose weight to feel good and improve their quality of life and 89 per cent identified health as a driving force.
Most people who were classified as obese were motivated to lose weight for their health, with about 41 per cent motivated by their families.
CSIRO behavioural scientist Emily Brindal said understanding people's motivations was imperative to helping them stay committed.
"'New year, new me' resolutions can often be spur-of-the-moment and we all know that, despite best intentions, motivation levels often drop as challenges present," Dr Brindal said.
New research from Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) has revealed that more than half of the 79 per cent of Australians who made New Year's resolutions in 2020 wanted to lose weight or improve fitness.
The ESSA said it wanted to remind people that in addition to helping people get fit, exercise was also pivotal to mental health.
ESSA Chief Executive Officer Anita Hobson-Powell said many people made New Year's resolutions with the best intentions only to abandon them.
"Remembering the significant impact exercise can have on our mental health too can be a great way to ensure you stick to your resolution," she said.
To take the new CSIRO Start Strong Diet Quiz, click here.
