Adherence to mobile‐app‐based dietary self‐monitoring—Impact on weight loss in adults

Abstract

Objectives Greater dietary self‐monitoring adherence is associated with weight loss, however, the dietary self‐monitoring adherence criteria that predict weight loss are unknown. The criteria used to define adherence to dietary self‐monitoring in obesity treatment tend to vary, particularly in studies that include dietary self‐monitoring via mobile applications (apps). The objectives of this study were to (a) determine weight change outcomes related to app‐based dietary self‐monitoring and (b) determine the associations between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of dietary self‐monitoring and weight change. Methods In this single‐arm uncontrolled prospective study, employees at a large, urban health system who had overweight or obesity self‐monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the Calorie Counter by FatSecret app. A paired sample t‐test examined the association of app‐based dietary self‐monitoring and weight change; linear regression examined the associations of frequent, consistent, and complete dietary self‐monitoring and weight change. Results A significant mean difference [t (89) = 6.59, p < 0.001] was found between baseline and 8‐week weight (M = −1.5 ± 2.1 kg) in the sample (N = 90). Linear regression revealed a significant association [F (1, 88) = 7.18, p = 0.009] between total weeks of consistent dietary self‐monitoring (M = 4.4 ± 2.8) and percent weight loss (M = −1.54% ± 2.26%), and a significant association [F (1, 88) = 6.42, p = 0.013] between dietary self‐monitoring frequency (M = 50.1% ± 33.3%) and percent weight loss. The total weeks of complete dietary self‐monitoring (M = 3.42 ± 2.87) was not associated [F (1, 88) = 3.57, p = 0.062] with percent weight loss. Conclusions Consistent and frequent app‐based dietary self‐monitoring were associated with short‐term weight loss. Emphasizing these aspects of self‐monitoring may be an avenue for decreasing the burden of self‐monitoring.

How much food tracking during a digital weight‐management program is enough to produce clinically significant weight loss?

“…Results revealed that frequency of food tracking was associated with greater weight loss; specifically, a 1% increase in the number of days of food tracking was associated with 0.08% greater weight loss. This is consistent with Payne et al, who reported that a 1% increase in frequency of food tracking was associated with 0.02% greater weight loss [5], and Peterson et al, who showed that high consistency of food tracking improved long-term success in weight management [22]. We extend the literature by reporting the optimum thresholds of food tracking that predicted ≥3%, ≥5%, and ≥10% weight loss at 6 months, which were tracking on 28.5%, 39.4%, and 67.1% of intervention days, respectively.…”

“…Another study of a 12-week lifestyle intervention found that 68% of participants were consistently tracking in the first week, but this number fell to 21% by 12 weeks [6]. Randomized trials of 6-month lifestyle interventions have reported mean tracking frequency of about 50% of intervention days [5,7], which is far below the daily prescription. In spite of modest adherence to food tracking in lifestyle interventions, it remains a strong predictor of weight loss [5].…”

“…This can be a taxing prescription that is not feasible to do long term for many people [4]. In a study of an 8‐week mobile app‐delivered lifestyle intervention, food tracking declined from 6 days per week at week 1 to 2 days per week at week 8 [5]. Another study of a 12‐week lifestyle intervention found that 68% of participants were consistently tracking in the first week, but this number fell to 21% by 12 weeks [6].…”

“…Randomized trials of 6‐month lifestyle interventions have reported mean tracking frequency of about 50% of intervention days [5,7], which is far below the daily prescription. In spite of modest adherence to food tracking in lifestyle interventions, it remains a strong predictor of weight loss [5].…”

Nutrition-Related Mobile Application for Daily Dietary Self-Monitoring

“…In 2007–2021, terms such as nutrition ( n = 2294), health ( n = 1734), food ( n = 898), study ( n = 891), and patients ( n = 817) can be observed in Table 4 . Furthermore, recent studies have shown that, in the face of this research, researchers' experience found self-monitoring dietary and physical activity [ 29 , 34 , 45 – 47 ], healthy diet and lifestyle [ 45 ], and mobile application of dietary self-monitoring [ 46 , 48 – 50 ].…”