Dietary self‐monitoring and long‐term success with weight management

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the contributions of frequency, consistency, and comprehensiveness of dietary self-monitoring to long-term weight change.Design and MethodsParticipants included 220 obese women (mean±SD, age=59.3±6.1 years; BMI=36.8±4.9 kg/m2) who achieved a mean loss of -10.39±5.28% from baseline during 6 months of behavioral treatment and regained 2.30±7.28% during a 12-month extended-care period. The contributions of cumulative frequency (total number of food records) of self-monitoring, consistency across time (number of weeks with ≥3 records), and comprehensiveness of information recorded were examined as predictors of weight regain in a hierarchical linear regression analysis The mediating role of adherence to daily caloric intake goals was tested using a bootstrapping analysis.ResultsThe association between high total frequency of self-monitoring and reduced weight regain was moderated by weekly consistency of self-monitoring, p=.004; increased frequency produced beneficial effects on weight change only when coupled with high consistency (>3 days/week). There was no impact of comprehensiveness on weight change, p>.05. The favorable effect of high frequency/high consistency self-monitoring on weight change was partially mediated by participants’ success in meeting daily caloric intake goals (p< .001).ConclusionThe combination of high frequency plus high consistency of dietary self-monitoring improves long-term success in weight management.

The role of self-monitoring in the maintenance of weight loss success

“…These initial results support previous research demonstrating self-monitoring as an effective tool to promote weight loss (Peterson et al, 2014). However, it extends beyond prior studies in illustrating the beneficial impact of self-monitoring on long-term weight loss.…”

Dietary Self-Monitoring in Weight Management: Current Evidence on Efficacy and Adherence

“…Increased frequency produced beneficial effects on weight change only when coupled with high consistency (>3 days/ wk). 28 There was no influence of comprehensiveness on weight change. 28 The authors concluded that the combination of high frequency plus high consistency of dietary self-monitoring improves long-term success in weight management.…”

“…More recent studies provide further evidence regarding the effect of different types of dietary self-monitoring on weight loss among different populations. 8, [27][28][29][30][31] Dietary self-monitoring can be categorized into three types: paper record (pen and paper records), web-based self-monitoring, and mobile devices (personal digital assistants, wearables, and mobile telephones). The efficacy, strengths, and weaknesses for each type of self-monitoring are discussed below.…”

“…28 The authors concluded that the combination of high frequency plus high consistency of dietary self-monitoring improves long-term success in weight management. 28 …”

Tweeting to Health

“…Self-monitoring is an important component of behavioral weight loss and maintenance programs. 1,2 Traditional methods of monitoring physical activity and diet through paper diaries are effective but often cumbersome and difficult to sustain over time. 3,4 Digital monitoring methods have the advantage of real-time tracking, which enables better compliance with self-monitoring for weight loss through consumption of healthy diets.…”