Three-Year Follow-Up of Participants from a Self-Weighing Randomized Controlled Trial

Frequent self-weighing is associated with weight loss maintenance. Several years ago, we investigated frequent self-weighing’s effect on weight loss and found the participants lost a significant amount of weight. Three years after this trial's end, participants were contacted for an update on their weight and self-weighing frequency. Weight change and self-weighing frequency since the end of the study were assessed. We hypothesized that participants who maintained frequent self-weighing behavior would have maintained their weight loss. Out of 98 participants enrolled in the RCT, 37% (n = 36) participated in this follow-up study. Total weight loss during the trial for the follow-up participants was 12.7 ± 19.4 lbs (p<0.001). Three years after intervention, participants regained 0.9 ± 4.34 lbs, a value that was not statistically different from zero (p=0.75). This did not differ by gender (p=0.655). Over 75% of these participants continued to weigh themselves at least once a week. Frequent self-weighing may be an effective, low-cost strategy for weight loss maintenance. Future research should further investigate the role of self-weighing in long-term weight gain prevention

Binge Eating Behavior and Weight Loss Maintenance over a 2-Year Period

Objective. To investigate the relationship between binge eating behavior and weight loss maintenance over a two-year period in adults. Design. Secondary data analysis using the Keep It Off study, a randomized trial evaluating an intervention to promote weight loss maintenance. Participants. 419 men and women (ages: 20 to 70 y; BMI: 20–44 kg/m2) who had intentionally lost ≥10% of their weight during the previous year. Measurements. Body weight was measured and binge eating behavior over the past 6 months was reported at baseline, 12 months and 24 months. Height was measured at baseline. Results. Prevalence of binge eating at baseline was 19.4% (n=76). Prevalence of binge eating at any time point was 30.1% (n=126). Although rate of weight regain did not differ significantly between those who did or did not report binge eating at baseline, binge eating behavior across the study period (additive value of presence or absence at each time point) was significantly associated with different rates of weight regain. Conclusion. Tailoring weight loss maintenance interventions to address binge eating behavior is warranted given the prevalence and the different rates of weight regain experienced by those reporting this behavior

Frequent Self-Weighing and Visual Feedback for Weight Loss in Overweight Adults

Evidence has suggested that self-weighing may be beneficial for weight control in adults, but few studies have independently assessed the contribution of this behavior to weight loss. This study experimentally tested daily self-weighing and visual feedback (the Caloric Titration Method (CTM)) as a weight loss and weight loss maintenance intervention over 2 years. 162 overweight individuals were randomized to the CTM intervention or delayed treatment control group. In year 1, weight change was compared between groups, and in year 2, the control group started using the CTM while the intervention group continued using the CTM for maintenance. A significant difference in weight loss over the first year (CTM n = 70; 2.6 ± 5.9 kg versus control n = 65; 0.5 ± 4.4 kg, p = 0.019) was qualified by a group × gender × time interaction (p = 0.002) such that men lost more weight using the CTM. In year 2, the CTM group maintained their weight and the control group lost an amount similar to the intervention group in year 1. Daily self-weighing and visual feedback facilitated a minimal amount of weight loss and maintenance of this loss. Future research investigating characteristics of those who benefit from this type of self-directed intervention is warranted

Daily Self-Weighing to Control Body Weight in Adults

The objective of this study is to review the history of daily self-weighing for weight control, discuss the possibility that self-weighing may cause adverse psychological symptoms, and propose mechanisms that explain how self-weighing facilitates weight control. A systematic forward (citation) tracking approach has been employed in this study. In the early literature, experimental tests did not demonstrate a benefit of adding daily self-weighing to traditional behavioral modification for weight loss. More recent studies have shown that daily self-weighing combined with personalized electronic feedback can produce and sustain weight loss with and without a traditional weight loss program. Daily self-weighing appears to be effective in preventing age-related weight gain. Apart from these experimental findings, there is considerable agreement that the frequency of self-weighing correlates with success in losing weight and sustaining the weight loss. The early literature suggested frequent self-weighing may be associated with negative psychological effects. However, more recent experimental trials do not substantiate such a causal relationship. In conclusion, daily self-weighing may be a useful strategy for certain adults to prevent weight gain, lose weight, or prevent weight regain after loss. More research is needed to better understand the role of different types of feedback, who benefits most from self-weighing, and at what frequency

An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability and Factors Influencing Eating Behaviors

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been proposed to be a marker of emotion regulation such that individuals with higher HRV display better emotion regulation capabilities. Emotion regulation is linked to eating disorders and subclinical disordered eating, which are prevalent and troubling conditions in emerging adult women. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between HRV and factors influencing eating behavior, for example emotional eating, in emerging adult women

Weighing frequency among working adults: Cross-sectional analysis of two community samples

Objective: Self-weighing frequency is associated with lower body weight and less weight gain. This study describes self-weighing frequency in two samples of working adults from different fields: office-based and transit employees. Methods: Self-weighing frequency and demographic information were self-reported at baseline measurement of two worksite interventions. Data were collected from transit employees (n = 1479) enrolled in a worksite intervention between October and December of 2005 and office based employees (n = 1747) in another worksite intervention between January 2006 and April 2007 in the Minneapolis, MN and St. Paul, MN metropolitan area. Trained staff measured height and weight. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between self-weighing frequency and body mass index, study sample, and gender adjusting for age, race, and education. Results: Odds ratios showed self-weighing frequency was significantly different between overweight and obese categories and between study samples. Office-based employees self-weighed more frequently than transit employees. Overweight employees self-weighed more frequently than obese employees. Conclusion: While self-weighing outcomes and associations with obesity prevention and weight loss are still under investigation, these results may help in improving obesity intervention planning and informing worksite weight management programs by identifying how often working adults naturally engage in this behavior prior to weight loss interventions