Characterising individual variability in associations between self‐monitoring and weight change during and after a behavioral weight management program

Abstract

ObjectiveGreater self‐monitoring of caloric intake and weight has been associated with success at both initial weight loss and long‐term maintenance. Given the existence of wide variability in weight loss outcomes and the key role of self‐monitoring within behavioral weight management interventions, this study examined individual variability in associations between self‐monitoring and weight change and whether demographic factors could predict who may best benefit from self‐monitoring.MethodsParticipants were 72 adults with overweight or obesity (mean ± SD, age = 50.6 ± 10.3; body mass index = 31.2 ± 4.5 kg/m2; 71%Female; 83%White) enrolled in a 12‐week weight loss program followed by a 40‐week observational maintenance period. Participants were encouraged to self‐monitor caloric intake and weight daily and to report these data via a study website each week. Multilevel mixed models were used to estimate week‐to‐week associations between self‐monitoring and weight change, by individual and linear regressions and ANOVAs were used to explore demographic differences in these associations.ResultsMost participants (68%) demonstrated statistically significant negative associations between self‐monitoring of either caloric intake or weight and weight change. Of these, 76% benefited from self‐monitoring both caloric intake and weight, 18% from self‐monitoring caloric intake only, and 6% from self‐weighing only. The magnitude of associations between self‐monitoring and weight change did not significantly differ by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, or income, all ps > 0.05.ConclusionsDifferences in the effectiveness of self‐monitoring for weight loss were not observed by demographic characteristics. Future research should examine if other factors may predict the effectiveness of self‐monitoring.