Frequency of self‐weighing and weight loss outcomes within a brief lifestyle intervention targeting emerging adults

Summary

Background

Frequent self‐weighing is associated with better weight loss and maintenance among adults. Emerging adults ages 18–25 rarely enroll in behavioural weight loss trials, and thus, little is known about their willingness to engage in frequent self‐weighing and its association with weight loss in this age group.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of self‐weighing among 18–25‐year‐old over the course of a brief lifestyle intervention and to determine the association between frequent self‐weighing and weight loss.

Methods

Emerging adults (EA) ages 18–25 [N = 52, 54% racial/ethnic minority, 79% female, BMI = 34.2 (5.4)] enrolled in a 3‐month lifestyle intervention with structure and content modified for EA. Benefits of frequent self‐weighing were presented; participants were encouraged to weigh themselves at least weekly and no more than daily. Assessments occurred at baseline and post‐treatment (3 months).

Results

At baseline, a majority of participants (63.5%) reported self‐weighing less than once a week. Frequency of self‐weighing increased over treatment (p < 0.001), with 42.9% weighing weekly and 38.2% weighing several times per week or more (i.e. frequent self‐weighing) at 3 months. Frequent self‐weighing was associated with greater weight loss (p = 0.03) and greater likelihood of achieving 5% weight loss (p = 0.01) at post‐treatment.

Conclusions

Frequent self‐weighing may be a viable approach to promoting self‐regulation during the high‐risk developmental period of emerging adulthood. Consistent with findings among other adult samples, frequent self‐weighing was associated with greater weight losses.

More than 40% of 18–25 year old in the U.S. meet criteria for overweight or obesity, 1 placing them at increased cardiometabolic risk 2. This developmental period is associated with numerous life transitions (e.g. living independently, balancing work and school) as well as unhealthy weight‐related behaviour (e.g. declines in physical activity, increased consumption of fast food, poor sleep) that contribute to weight gain and obesity during these years 3. Moreover, data indicate that this age group is all but absent from standard adult behavioural weight loss trials, representing less than 1% of enrolled participants 4. Researchers have called for programs targeting this unique transition from adolescence into early adulthood, 5 including those specific to weight loss 6. Our formative data suggest that to effectively engage this population, lifestyle interventions must be brief, with minimal in‐person contact, content tailored specifically to 18–25‐year old, and importantly, that programs must promote autonomy and allow for choice in behavioural goals 7, 8. Thus, it remains a challenge how best to adapt evidence‐based programs in a way that will appeal to this population and can produce clinically significant weight losses through such a low touch program while still affording participants choice surrounding behavioural goals as opposed to providing prescriptions.

Frequent self‐weighing may represent a simple self‐regulation tool that can be used to promote clinically significant weight loss within a brief, reduced‐intensity lifestyle intervention targeting emerging adults. In adults, frequent self‐weighing has been associated with weight gain prevention, 9 weight loss 9, 10, 11, 12 and weight loss maintenance 12, 13, 14 and is not associated with unhealthy weight control practices or worsening of psychological symptoms 11, 15, 16. Less is known about the effects of frequent self‐weighing among young adults; some studies have reported associations between self‐weighing and negative psychological symptoms 17, while others indicate that frequent self‐weighing might be part of a constellation of healthy weight‐related behaviour 18. Importantly, data suggest that within the context of a lifestyle intervention targeting young adults 21–35 years of age, frequent self‐weighing was not associated with increased depressive symptoms, disordered eating or body satisfaction and was associated with better weight loss 19 Further, several studies have examined self‐weighing within the context of weight gain prevention efforts targeting first year college students 20, 21, 22, 23; and data indicate high adherence and acceptability of self‐weighing 22. Impact on prevention of weight gain has been mixed with some studies reporting benefits of daily self‐weighing within minimal weight gain prevention interventions 20, 23, while others have noted benefits only within the context of a more comprehensive online healthy lifestyle program 21. In these studies, frequent self‐weighing has not been associated with adverse psychological outcomes 21, 22.

Of note, these previous studies were conducted within the context of weight gain prevention and focused exclusively on college students. To our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the relationship between frequent self‐weighing and weight loss in a behavioural weight loss program targeting a broader sample of emerging adults. Thus, the primary aim of this paper is to examine the frequency of self‐weighing among a racially diverse sample of emerging adults between 18 and 25 years enrolled in a brief lifestyle intervention, and to examine the association between frequent self‐weighing and weight loss.

Methods

Intervention description

These secondary analyses were conducted using data from a 3‐month behavioural lifestyle intervention, SPARK RVA. The primary findings have been reported elsewhere 15, but in short, the aim of the original study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of three approaches to promote engagement and weight loss in this age group. Mode of delivery differed: face‐to‐face, web and hybrid (web lessons plus optional in‐person classes), as did the relative emphasis on promoting autonomy. Across all arms, evidence of the benefits of regular self‐weighing was presented to participants, but explicit self‐weighing prescriptions were not provided. Instead, participants were encouraged to weigh themselves at least weekly and no more than once per day, but were allowed to choose their own target.

Recruitment and participants

SPARK RVA was advertised via web and print advertisements, radio spots and email blasts throughout the Richmond, VA area. Interested individuals were directed to a study recruitment website, where they could review study details and if interested, were able to complete a secure survey in order to determine eligibility. Inclusion criteria were ages 18–25 and BMI 25–45 kg/m; exclusion criteria were physical or mental health conditions that pose a safety concern or are associated with unintentional weight change, recent (i.e. within the past 6 months) pregnancy and recent >5% weight loss. Participants (N = 52) were mostly female (79%), and the sample was diverse (54% racial/ethnic minority) with a mean age of 22.3 (2.0) and mean BMI of 34.2 (5.4).

Measures

Anthropometrics

Measures of weight (kg) and height (cm) were taken by masked research assistants using standard protocols at baseline and post‐treatment (3 months).

Frequency of self‐weighing

At all assessment points, participants responded to the following question: ‘During the past month, how often did you weigh yourself?’ Response options are (i) several times a day; (ii) once a day; (iii) several times a week; (iv) once a week; (v) less than once a week; (vi) less than once a month; and (vii) never.

Statistical analyses

Data were collapsed across treatment arms and conducted with completers (retention > 80%). There were no baseline differences on weighing frequency for those participants who were retained vs. not. Generalized linear modeling was used to examine change in frequency of self‐weighing over time as well as to compare weight loss at post‐treatment for those who reported frequent self‐weighing (i.e. several times per week or more) vs. those who reported weighing less frequently (once a week or less). Subsequent analyses were conducted in which participants were categorized according to their change in weighing frequency from baseline to 3 months (i.e. increasers, stable and decreasers). Chi‐square analyses were conducted to examine categorical variables (e.g. achieving a 5% weight loss). Treatment arm, gender and race were included as covariates in all analyses; those analyses examining weight change in kilogram also included baseline weight as a covariate. All analyses were conducted using spss version 22.

Results

At baseline, a majority of participants (64.5%) reported self‐weighing less than once a week, with only 15.4% weighing once per week and 21.1% reporting frequent self‐weighing defined as at least several times per week. Self‐weighing increased over the 3‐month treatment program (p < 0.001); at post‐treatment only 19% of participants reported self‐weighing less than once per week, whereas 42.9% of participants reported self‐weighing weekly and 38.2% of participants reported self‐weighing several times per week or more (Table 1). Increase in frequency of self‐weighing from baseline to post‐treatment was associated with greater weight loss (β = −0.433, t = −3.02 and p = 0.01). Further, participants who reported frequent self‐weighing (i.e. several time per week or more) at post‐treatment achieved greater weight losses than those weighing weekly or less (p = 0.03, Figure 1). In addition, participants who endorsed frequent self‐weighing were more likely to achieve a clinically significant (i.e. 5% of baseline weight) weight loss (p = 0.01). Finally, when participants were grouped according to change in weighing frequency (increasers, stable and decreasers), those who increased their frequency of self‐weighing experienced the greatest weight loss relative to those who remained at the same frequency of weighing or decreased frequency of weighing, although this effect only approached statistical significance (−4.9 + 4.2 kg, −2.3 + 3.5 kg, and −0.92 + 2.2 kg, p = 0.06).

Table 1.

Frequency of self‐weighing

Frequency	Baseline (N = 52) (%)	Post‐Treatment (3 month) (N = 42) (%)
Never	7 (13.5)	1 (2.4)
Less than once a month	15 (28.8)	0 (0)
Less than once a week	11 (21.2)	7 (16.7)
Once per week	8 (15.4)	18 (42.9)
Several times a week	9 (17.3)	13 (31)
Once per day	2 (3.8)	2 (4.8)
Several times a day	0 (0)	1 (2.4)

Figure 1.

Percent weight loss by weighing frequency.

Discussion

In a brief lifestyle intervention specifically designed for 18–25 year old with overweight or obesity, frequent self‐weighing was associated with greater weight loss at post‐treatment. These results are consistent with findings among other adults 9, 10, 11, 12 and suggest that frequent self‐weighing may be an important factor in weight control among this population as well. Of note, no prescriptions were given in the current study – rather, consistent with our formative data, evidence was presented about the benefits of self‐weighing and participants were allowed to select the target they felt was best suited for them in order to promote autonomy. In light of the current findings and previous data demonstrating the benefits of more frequent self‐weighing 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, future studies should consider providing this population with a forced choice between frequent self‐weighing (i.e. >several times per week) and daily self‐weighing to promote optimal weight management while still allowing for choice in behavioural targets. Indeed, frequent self‐weighing might be a particularly valuable self‐regulation tool for this age group given evidence to suggest dietary self‐monitoring is a substantial challenge in this population 8; thus, the scale serving as an error detector might serve to enhance overall self‐regulation of energy balance behaviour and weight loss in this high‐risk age group.

Limitations of this secondary analysis include a limited sample size, lack of an assessment of psychological variables such as depression and disordered eating, and collapsing across treatment arms; further, within the trial from which these data are drawn, participants were not randomized to different self‐weighing prescriptions, limiting the inferences that can be drawn regarding causality. Of note, many previous studies have demonstrated a lack of adverse psychological outcomes associated with frequent self‐weighing in adults 11, 15, 16, as well as first‐year college students 22 and a broader sample of young adults 19; nevertheless, future studies should explore the effects of frequent self‐weighing on psychological variables including depressive symptoms and disordered eating within the context of a weight loss intervention targeting this specific age group. Strengths of the current study include a diverse sample including 54% racial/ethnic minorities, and the fact that this is the first study to examine the relationship between self‐weighing and weight loss within a sample of treatment‐seeking, overweight/obese 18–25 years old. Findings suggest that frequent self‐weighing is associated with better weight loss outcomes among a racially diverse same of 18–25 years old enrolled in a brief lifestyle intervention.

Funding source

This research was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant# K23DK083440 awarded to JGL. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIDDK or the National Institutes of Health.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Dr Tate serves on the Scientific Advisory Council for Weight Watchers. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

LaRose, J. G. , Lanoye, A. , Tate, D. F. , and Wing, R. R. (2016) Frequency of self‐weighing and weight loss outcomes within a brief lifestyle intervention targeting emerging adults. Obesity Science & Practice, 2: 88–92. doi: 10.1002/osp4.24.