Self-Weighing Instruction Feasibility Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Body Weight; Weight Loss
• Interventions: Behavioral: weighing frequency instructions and tips

• Registration Number: NCT01966926
• Lead Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Brief Summary

Scant data have been reported on the effects of weight self-monitoring during weight control. The purpose of this pilot project was to consider the questions: Is it possible to assign participants to engage in daily weight self-monitoring, and are there differential effects on mood of daily versus weekly weighing?

Detailed Description

This study tested the feasibility of assigning participants to daily or weekly weighing, monitored adherence to weighing instructions, and tracked additional behavioral and psychosocial indicators over a period of six months. It was hypothesized that there would be no differences in mood or adherence between daily versus weekly weighing conditions. Knowledge about the benefits of frequent self-weighing may shape public health recommendations for regular weighing as a weight reduction or obesity prevention strategy.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-10
• Primary Completion: 2010-05
• Study Completion: 2010-05
• Study First Submitted: 2013-10-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-10-17
• Study First Posted: 2013-10-22
• Results First Submitted: 2013-10-22
• Results First Submitted QC: 2013-12-16
• Results First Posted: 2014-02-07
• Status Verified: 2019-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-10-30
• Last Update Posted: 2019-11-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Body mass index between 25 and 35 kg/m2

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Exclusion Criteria

• Current weight loss program participation
• Chronic health conditions (diabetes, cancer, heart disease, psychiatric disorders requiring medication)
• Current or past eating disorder
• Current pregnancy or pregnant in past year

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Weekly Weight Tracking	weighing frequency instructions and tips	weighing frequency instructions and tips
Daily Weight Tracking	weighing frequency instructions and tips	weighing frequency instructions and tips

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adherence to Weight Tracking Instructions	6 months	Participants were assigned to daily or weekly weight tracking, and were asked to return postcards once a week with weights recorded (7 for daily, 1 for weekly).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Depression Ratings	baseline to 6 months	Ratings of depressed mood, assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, were obtained at baseline, three, and six months; the comparison of depression scores between groups and over time from baseline to 3 and 6 months was considered as a secondary outcome and analyzed using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Scores on the inventory range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating greater presence of depressive symptoms. Scores from 0-10 represent normal mood; 11-16 = mild mood disturbance; 17-20 = borderline clinical depression; 21-30 = moderate depression; 31-40 = severe depression; \> 40 = extreme depression.
Changes in Barriers to Weight Tracking	baseline to 6 months	Perceived barriers to self-weighing were assessed at baseline, three, and six months using a scale created for this study. The scale has a range of 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating greater perceptions of barriers to self-weighing. A comparison of barriers scores between groups and over time from baseline to 3 and 6 months was considered a secondary outcome and analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA.
Changes in Perceptions of Weight Tracking	three to six months	Perceptions of weight tracking (ease of remembering and understanding, usefulness, awareness, interest, reward value, satisfaction, motivational value) were assessed at three and six months using a scale created for the study. The scale has a range of 0 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater perceptions of favorability of weight tracking. A comparison of perceptions scores between groups and over time from 3 and 6 months was considered a secondary outcome and analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA.
Changes in Anxiety	baseline to 6 months	Ratings of anxiety, assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory, were assessed at baseline, three, and six months; a comparison of anxiety scores between groups and over time from baseline to 3 and 6 months was considered a secondary outcome and analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA. Possible scores on the scale range from 0-63. Scores from 0-7 indicate minimal anxiety; 8-15 = mild anxiety; 16-25 = moderate anxiety; 26-63 = severe anxiety.
Changes in Body Image	baseline to 6 months	Changes in self-reported body image were assessed at baseline, three, and six months using the Appearance subscale of the Multidimensional Body Image Questionnaire. The subscale has a range of 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating better body image. A comparison of body image scores between groups and over time from baseline to 3 and 6 months was considered a secondary outcome and analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Minnesota; 🇺🇸 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States