Objective:
To identify dietary self-monitoring implementation strategies in behavioral weight loss interventions.
Design:
We conducted a systematic review of eight databases and examined 59 weight loss intervention studies targeting adults with overweight/obesity that used dietary self-monitoring.
Setting:
NA
Participants:
NA
Results:
We identified self-monitoring implementation characteristics, effectiveness of interventions in supporting weight loss, and examined weight loss outcomes among higher and lower intensity dietary self-monitoring protocols. Included studies utilized diverse self-monitoring formats (paper, website, mobile app, phone) and intensity levels (recording all intake or only certain aspects of diet). We found the majority of studies using high and low intensity self-monitoring strategies demonstrated statistically significant weight loss in intervention groups compared to control groups.
Conclusions:
Based on our findings, lower and higher intensity dietary self-monitoring may support weight loss, but variability in adherence measures and limited analysis of weight loss relative to self-monitoring usage limits our understanding of how these methods compare to each other.
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