Abstract
Background
Daily weighing is emerging as the recommended self-weighing frequency for weight loss.
This is likely because it improves adoption of weight control behaviors.
Objective
To examine whether weighing every day is associated with greater adoption of weight
control behaviors compared with less frequent weighing.
Design
Longitudinal analysis of a previously conducted 6-month randomized controlled trial.
Participants/setting
Overweight men and women in Chapel Hill, NC, participated in the intervention arm
(N=47).
Intervention
The intervention focused on daily weighing for weight loss using an e-scale that transmitted
weights to a study website, along with weekly e-mailed lessons and tailored feedback
on daily weighing adherence and weight loss progress.
Main outcome measures
We gathered objective data on self-weighing frequency from the e-scales. At baseline
and 6 months, weight change was measured in the clinic and weight control behaviors
(total items=37), dietary strategies, and calorie expenditure from physical activity
were assessed via questionnaires. Calorie intake was assessed using an online 24-hour
recall tool.
Statistical analyses
We used χ2 tests to examine variation in discrete weight control behaviors and linear regression
models to examine differences in weight, dietary strategies, and calorie intake and
expenditure by self-weighing frequency.
Results
Fifty-one percent of participants weighed every day (n=24) over 6 months. The average
self-weighing frequency among those weighing less than daily (n=23) was 5.4±1.2 days
per week. Daily weighers lost significantly more weight compared with those weighing
less than daily (mean difference=–6.1 kg; 95% CI –10.2 to –2.1; P=0.004). The total number of weight control behaviors adopted was greater among daily
weighers (17.6±7.6 vs 11.2±6.4; P=0.004). There were no differences by self-weighing frequency in dietary strategies,
calorie intake, or calorie expenditure.
Conclusions
Weighing every day led to greater adoption of weight control behaviors and produced
greater weight loss compared with weighing most days of the week. This further implicates
daily weighing as an effective weight loss tool.
Keywords
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Biography
D. M. Steinberg is a research scholar, Duke Obesity Prevention Program, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC; at the time of the study, she was a doctoral student, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Biography
G. G. Bennett is a professor of psychology, global health, and medicine, Duke Obesity Prevention Program, Duke Global Health Institute, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC.
Biography
S. Askew is a biostatistician, Duke Obesity Prevention Program, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC.
Biography
D. F. Tate is an associate professor, Departments of Nutrition and Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 12, 2015
Accepted:
December 9,
2014
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST D. M. Steinberg and G. G. Bennett have equity in Scale Down, LLC, which develops technologies and applications for mobile weight loss. G. G. Bennett is on the scientific advisory board for Nutrisystem. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the other authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Control Education Program Fellowship (grant no. R25 CA057726) provided funding for the Weighing Everyday to Improve and Gain Health (WEIGH) study.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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