Frequent Self‐Weighing with Electronic Graphic Feedback to Prevent Age‐Related Weight Gain in Young Adults

Abstract

Background Young adults display substantial weight gain. Preventing this age-related weight gain would reduce overweight and obesity. Objective We evaluated an internet based intervention using Internet-connected scales and graphic email feedback; the Caloric Titration Method (CTM), to reduce age-related weight gain over the course of 1 y among first-year college students. Design First-year college students (n=167) were randomized to (CTM) or control (C) group. Both groups were provided Internet-connected scales. CTM group was instructed to weigh daily, view a weight graph emailed to them after weighing, and try to maintain their weight as indicated in the graph. The C group could weigh at any time, but did not receive feedback. At six months and 1 year the C group were notified to provide weights. Intention to treat analysis, using a mixed model adjusted for baseline weight, BMI and gender was used to analyze the effect of the intervention. Results Baseline Body Mass Index was 22.9 ± 3.0 kg/m2. Frequency of self-weighing (median) was 5 times/week in the CTM group, compared to 1 time/week in C (p<0.001). Ninety-five percent of the CTM participants weighed ≥3 times/week, compared to 15% in C group (p<0.001). After 1 year the C group had gained 1.1 ± 4.4 kg whereas the CTM group lost 0.5 ± 3.7 kg, yielding a significant overall time*group interaction (F=3.39, p=0.035). The difference in weight change between the two groups at 1 year was significant (p=0.004). Weight change of the CTM group was not different from zero whereas weight gain in C group was significant. Retention was 81%. Conclusions The internet based frequent self-weighing CTM system was effective in preventing age-related weight gain in young adults over one year and thus offers promise to reduce overweight and obesity.

Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for preventing harmful weight gain among young adults from lower socioeconomic status and ethnically diverse backgrounds: a systematic review

“…As three studies did not report the mean change in body weight and two were not lifestyle programme based , they were excluded from the review. This left 30 studies, from 33 papers , included in the review. The PRISMA flow diagram for the review process of study selection is shown in Fig .…”

“…The majority of the studies (n = 25) did not clarify their methods of blinding. Selection bias was mainly unclear or low within and across studies, with 13 studies not specifying the method of sequence generation in randomization (29,31,32,34,36,40,42,44,45,47,53,54) and only seven studies reporting allocation concealment methods (27,28,33,38,41,43,46,50,51,59). Only seven studies reported results of pre-specified outcomes (27,28,33,39,41,43,46,50,51,59), whilst the remaining were classified as unclear as they did not publish their protocol or provide details of their trial registration.…”

Preventing weight gain in African American breast cancer survivors using smart scales and activity trackers: a randomized controlled pilot study

“…Of the few other weight gain prevention trials that have encouraged daily weighing within lifestyle interventions [26,30,31] most have relied on self-reported measures of weighing behaviors. An intervention among first-year college students that included an introductory video lecture, encouraged daily self-weighing, provided Wi-Fi enabled scales without access to an app or online profile, and emailed daily feedback with a graph of weight data produced mean (SD) weight losses of −0.19 (2.89) kg at 6 months and −0.47 (3.66) kg at 1 year, one-tenth of the weight loss achieved in this study at 6 months [31]. The median frequency of self-weighing in the first 6 months was 5.0 days per week compared to 6.4 (INT+) and 4.4 (INT) days per week in our study.…”

“…Self-regulation of weight through frequent self-weighing is a feasible and potentially scalable approach to supporting weight maintenance among adult populations [24–28]. Previous interventions based on a self-regulation approach that have encouraged daily self-weighing and taught individuals to make small changes in diet and exercise behaviors based on daily weight information have been effective in preventing weight gain in young adults [29–31]. Distance- and technology-based lifestyle interventions have the potential to enhance access to cost-effective weight control programs for the growing population of cancer survivors [32].…”

Young Adults’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Obesity and Weight Management: Implications for Treatment Development

“…Some research indicates that frequent self-weighing in young adulthood is associated with binge eating and depression [97]—particularly among young women [98]. Within treatment-seeking samples of young adults, however, frequent self-weighing is associated with better weight outcomes [99–100] and healthy weight control behaviors [101]. Further, these studies report a lack of adverse psychological effects [100–102] and unhealthy weight control behaviors [101–102] associated with frequent self-weighing; in addition, young adults reported positive perceptions of regular self-weighing [103].…”