For many, the prospect of losing weight without changing your diet sounds too good to be true.

　　对大多数人来说，不改变饮食习惯下减肥似乎是天方夜谭。

　　But scientists have found a method that could provide the solution: simply weigh yourself daily.

　　但是科学家找到了一个办法：每天量一下自己的体重。

　　In a study of 294 female students by researchers at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania, it was found that those who hopped on their scales every day over two years saw a drop in both BMI and body fat compared to those who didn’t.

　　卓克索大学和宾夕法尼亚大学的研究人员对294名女学生进行了一项研究，结果发现：在两年内那些每天上秤称体重的女生与不称的女生相比，体重指数和身体脂肪都有所下降。

　　"We are at a critical juncture in American history. That is not an exaggeration. We are at and facing a crucible in which our daily life is being challenged and being questioned about what is right and what is wrong."

　　“毫不夸张地说，我们正处在美国历史的紧要关头。摆在我们面前的就是一个熔炉，我们的生活正受到挑战，我们行为的正确与否正在受到外界的质疑。

　　What’s more, the women - who were all of different weights - hadn’t been told to try to lose weight.

　　更重要的是，这些体重完全不同的女生事先没有被告知任何关于减肥的任务。

　　The researchers were particularly interested in studying students as it’s so common to put on weight at university, especially in your first year - they don’t call it the “Freshers’ 15” for nothing, after all.

　　研究人员对大学生的体重特别感兴趣，尤其是大一，他们可不会叫它“Freshers’ 15”。(Freshers’ 15常用于美国和加拿大，指大学生在第一年的体重会增加)

　　In fact, a 2009 study found that over 70 percent of students gain weight in their first year at university.

　　事实上，2009年的一项研究发现，超过70%的学生在大一体重会增加。

　　But simply by weighing themselves daily, the women not only avoided putting on weight, but actually lost a significant amount. Those who didn’t weigh themselves saw little change in their BMI.

　　但是，只要每天称重，这些女生的体重不但没有增加，而且实际上减了相当一部分重量。但那些本身不重的人体重指数则变化不大。

　　“The losses in BMI and body fat percentage were modest, but still significant, especially keeping in mind that these women were not part of a weight loss programme,” said lead study author Diane Rosenbaum, PhD.

　　该研究的负责人Diane Rosenbaum博士说：“虽然体重指数和体脂百分比减少程度不大，但意义是重大的，尤其是证明了这些女生不是减肥计划的一部分。”

　　“We did not expect that, in the absence of a weight loss intervention, folks would be losing weight.”

　　“我们没有想到，在没有刻意减肥的情况下，人们竟会达到减肥的效果。”

　　The researchers cannot say for certain that daily weighing leads to weight loss, but it could be that checking in every day motivates you to look after your body more.

　　研究人员无法确切地说日常称重会导致体重减轻，但有可能是每天检查会促使你更加关注自己的身体。

　　“Regularly weighing yourself can motivate you to engage in healthy eating and exercise behaviours, because it provides you with evidence that these behaviours are effective in helping you lose weight or prevent weight gain,” said Meghan Butryn, PhD, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel.

　　德雷克塞尔艺术科学学院副教授Meghan Butryn博士说：“定期称重能激励你健康饮食和锻炼，因为它证明了这些行为能有效防止体重增加甚至减肥。”

　　“Similarly, if you see weight gain on the scale, that information can motivate you to make a change.”

　　类似地，如果你看到体重增加，这些信息就会激励你做出改变。

　　Of course, it’s normal for a person’s weight to fluctuate, and so if you weigh a bit more than the day before, it could just be due to water retention, when you last went to the toilet, what you ate the night before or where a woman is in her menstrual cycle.

　　当然，一个人的体重波动是正常的，所以如果你的体重比前一天多一点，那可能只是取决于你上次上厕所时的保水性，前一天晚上吃的东西，或者女性在月经周期里吃的东西。

　　But perhaps simply by making you more aware, daily weigh-ins could help you lose weight.

　　我们只是让你了解，日常称重可以帮助你减肥。