Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Steinberg, DM; Tate, DF; Bennett, GG; Ennett, S; Samuel-Hodge, C; Ward, DS
Published in: American journal of preventive medicine
January 2014

Despite evidence that daily self-weighing is an effective strategy for weight control, concerns remain regarding the potential for negative psychological consequences.The goal of the study was to examine the impact of a daily self-weighing weight-loss intervention on relevant psychological constructs.A 6-month RCT.The study sample (N=91) included overweight men and women in the Chapel Hill NC area.Between February and August 2011, participants were randomly assigned to a daily self-weighing intervention or delayed-intervention control group. The 6-month intervention included daily self-weighing for self-regulation of diet and exercise behaviors using an e-scale that transmitted weights to a study website. Weekly e-mailed lessons and tailored feedback on daily self-weighing adherence and weight-loss progress were provided.Self-weighing frequency was measured throughout the study using e-scales. Weight was measured in-clinic at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Psychological outcomes were assessed via self-report at the same time points.In 2012, using linear mixed models and generalized estimating equation models, there were no significant differences between groups in depressive symptoms, anorectic cognitions, disinhibition, susceptibility to hunger, and binge eating. At 6 months, there was a significant group X time interaction for body dissatisfaction (p=0.007) and dietary restraint (p<0.001), with the intervention group reporting lower body dissatisfaction and greater dietary restraint compared to controls.Results indicate that a weight-loss intervention that focuses on daily self-weighing does not cause adverse psychological outcomes. This suggests that daily self-weighing is an effective and safe weight-control strategy among overweight adults attempting to lose weight.This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01369004.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

American journal of preventive medicine

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

ISSN

0749-3797

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

46

Issue

1

Start / End Page

24 / 29

Related Subject Headings

  • Self Concept
  • Self Care
  • Public Health
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Body Weight
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Steinberg, D. M., Tate, D. F., Bennett, G. G., Ennett, S., Samuel-Hodge, C., & Ward, D. S. (2014). Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(1), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.006
Steinberg, Dori M., Deborah F. Tate, Gary G. Bennett, Susan Ennett, Carmen Samuel-Hodge, and Dianne S. Ward. “Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.American Journal of Preventive Medicine 46, no. 1 (January 2014): 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.006.
Steinberg DM, Tate DF, Bennett GG, Ennett S, Samuel-Hodge C, Ward DS. Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. American journal of preventive medicine. 2014 Jan;46(1):24–9.
Steinberg, Dori M., et al. “Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 46, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 24–29. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.006.
Steinberg DM, Tate DF, Bennett GG, Ennett S, Samuel-Hodge C, Ward DS. Daily self-weighing and adverse psychological outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. American journal of preventive medicine. 2014 Jan;46(1):24–29.
Journal cover image

Published In

American journal of preventive medicine

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

ISSN

0749-3797

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

46

Issue

1

Start / End Page

24 / 29

Related Subject Headings

  • Self Concept
  • Self Care
  • Public Health
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Body Weight