Self-monitoring Of Body Weight Research Articles

Adherence to a caloric budget and body weight change vary by season, gender, and BMI: An observational study of daily users of a mobile health app.

Self-monitoring, one of the most important behaviors for successful weight loss, can be facilitated through mobile health applications (mHealth apps). Therefore, it is of interest to determine whether consistent users of these apps succeed in achieving their weight goals. This study used data from an mHealth app that enabled tracking of caloric intake, body weight, and physical activity and provided a caloric budget depending on weight goal. The primary objective was to evaluate adherence to caloric budget and body weight change among the most consistent (i.e., daily) trackers of caloric intake over a calendar year (n=9372, 50% male). Gender-stratified linear mixed models were conducted to examine the effects of quarter of year (Q1-Q4 as season proxies) and body mass index (BMI) group (normal weight, overweight, obesity) on adherence to a caloric budget (kcal/day). Change in body weight was analyzed using a subset of users (n=5808) who entered their weight in the app at least once per week, once per month, or once in Q1 and Q4. Physical activity entries were evaluated in exploratory analyses. Only users with obesity met their caloric budget in Q1. Deviation from budget increased for all groups from Q1 to Q2 (mean change[±standard error of the mean]: +23.7[±1.8] and +39.7[±2.2]kcal/day for female and male users, p<0.001), was stable between Q2 and Q3, and fluctuated thereafter depending on gender and BMI, with greater deviation among males with overweight. Users with obesity with weight entries at least once per month lost the most weight (-6.1[±0.3] and -4.5[±0.3]kg for females and males, p<0.001). Physical activity was highest in the summer months. Among consistent calorie trackers, adherence to a caloric budget and body weight vary by season, gender, and BMI. Self-monitoring of body weight in addition to calorie tracking may lead to improved weight loss outcomes.

Adding Financial Incentives to Online Group-Based Behavioral Weight Control: An RCT

Internet-delivered behavioral weight control is promising for expanding the reach and availability of weight management, but online programs produce lower weight losses than typically achieved in person. Financial incentives have been shown to increase weight losses. This study examined whether adding financial incentives for self-monitoring and achieving target weight losses increases weight losses attained in a fully online, group-based behavioral weight management program compared with the same program alone. This study was an RCT. Adults with overweight and obesity (n=418; 91% female; 28% minority) were recruited from 2 clinical centers. The intervention was a 24-session online group-based behavioral weight control program with weekly synchronous chat sessions (Internet-only) or the same program with weekly financial incentives for self-monitoring body weight and dietary intake daily and for achieving target weight losses at 2 and 6 months (Internet + incentives). This study measured weight loss at 6 months and treatment engagement (attendance, self-monitoring of body weight, dietary intake, and physical activity). Data were collected between February 2016 and August 2018, and analyses were completed in 2019. Participants randomized to the Internet + incentives group lost more weight (-6.4 [SD=5.5] kg) than those in the Internet-only group (-4.7 [SD=6.6] kg; p<0.01). Further, a higher proportion of the Internet + incentives group achieved ≥5% weight loss (55%) than those in the Internet-only group (40%; p<0.05). Treatment engagement was higher in the Internet + incentives condition, with greater self-monitoring of behaviors targeted by incentives, as well as higher rates of behaviors not targeted and higher self-reported physical activity. Study retention was higher among those in the Internet + incentives condition (91%) than those in the Internet-only condition (81%; p=0.003). Adding financial incentives to a program delivered fully online increases weight losses compared with the program alone and can achieve weight losses comparable to in-person programs, offering potential for substantial geographic reach. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02688621.

Effects of a 4-week Wheat Bran Diet Combined with Weight Self-monitoring on Visceral Fat and Body Weight Among Overweight Individuals

Background: Animal studies have shown that wheat bran (WB), which is rich in dietary fiber, has beneficial effects against postprandial hyperglycemia and fatty liver. The present study thus investigated the effects of a WB diet combined with body weight self-monitoring on visceral fat area (VFA) and body weight among overweight participants. Method: This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in adults with a body mass index of 23 to <30 kg/m2. After screening, 44 participants were randomly allocated to either the combination or control group (n = 22/group). The combination group was instructed to consume 8 g/day of WB (1.6 g/day as arabinoxylan) with their regular diet and monitor their body weight daily for 4 weeks, whereas the control group was instructed to maintain their regular diet and monitor their body weight daily for 4 weeks. Results: Although both groups exhibited a decrease in VFA, i.e., the primary outcome measure, the combination group exhibited a greater reduction therein compared with the control group with a significant treatment by time interaction. Moreover, the combination group exhibited a significantly greater decrease in body weight, i.e., the secondary outcome measure, after 4 weeks than the control group. Conclusion: Incorporating WB into the daily diet together with weight self-monitoring therapy can be beneficial for reducing VFA and body weight.

Process Evaluation of a Mobile Weight Loss Intervention for Truck Drivers.

BackgroundIn a cluster-randomized trial, the Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention produced statistically significant and medically meaningful weight loss at 6 months (−3.31 kg between-group difference). The current manuscript evaluates the relative impact of intervention components on study outcomes among participants in the intervention condition who reported for a postintervention health assessment (n = 134) to encourage the adoption of effective tactics and inform future replications, tailoring, and enhancements.MethodsThe Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention was implemented in a Web-based computer and smartphone-accessible format and included a group weight loss competition and body weight and behavioral self-monitoring with feedback, computer-based training, and motivational interviewing. Indices were calculated to reflect engagement patterns for these components, and generalized linear models quantified predictive relationships between participation in intervention components and outcomes.ResultsParticipants who completed the full program-defined dose of the intervention had significantly greater weight loss than those who did not. Behavioral self-monitoring, computer-based training, and health coaching were significant predictors of dietary changes, whereas behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the only significant predictor of changes in physical activity. Behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the strongest predictor of weight loss.ConclusionWeb-based self-monitoring of body weight and health behaviors was a particularly impactful tactic in our mobile health intervention. Findings advance the science of behavior change in mobile health intervention delivery and inform the development of health programs for dispersed populations.

The impact of a bodyweight and physical activity intervention (BeWEL) initiated through a national colorectal cancer screening programme: randomised controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the impact of a diet and physical activity intervention (BeWEL) on weight change in people with a body mass index >25 weight (kg)/height (m)2 at increased risk...

Self-weighing contributes to glycemic control: importance of measuring body weight

Self-monitoring of body weight is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and greater weight loss. Although regular self-weighing is also related to lower BMI in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes, the relationship between self-weighing and glycemic control has not been fully investigated. This study examined the cross-sectional association between self-weighing and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 306 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. There were 192 men and 114 women (mean age 62.3 ± 12.2 years). HbA1c was significantly lower in patients who weigh themselves more than once a day than in those who do not have a habit of daily self-weighing (7.10 ± 1.08 vs. 7.66 ± 1.30 %; P < 0.0005), even though there are no significant differences in body mass index (BMI) between groups. Higher weighing frequency and weighing in the morning was also associated with lower HbA1c. These findings raise the possibility that frequent self-weighing contributes to favorable glycemic control independent of prospective weight loss. The study suggests that daily self-weighing should be recommended for type 2 diabetes patients as a clinical health message about glycemic control. Further studies in a larger number of patients are needed to explore the effects of weighing frequency in these contexts.