Regular self-weighing to promote weight maintenance after intentional weight loss: a quasi-randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Many overweight people take action to lose weight but most regain this weight.


PURPOSE
To examine the effectiveness of a weight maintenance intervention focused on regular self-weighing after receiving a 12-week weight loss programme.


METHODS
Quasi-randomized controlled trial of 3768 obese or overweight men and women. The intervention group (n = 3290) received two telephone calls, the offer of free weighing scales, encouragement to weigh themselves weekly and record this on a card. The main outcome was change in weight between 3 and 12 months.


RESULTS
Using intention to treat analysis both groups regained weight; however, the intervention group on average regained 1.23 kg, whereas the control group regained 1.83 kg. Adjusting for covariates resulted in a mean difference of 0.68 kg (95% CI 0.12, 1.24) at 12-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Encouraging people who have recently lost weight to weigh themselves regularly prevents some weight regain.
['Madigan|Claire D|CD|', 'Aveyard|Paul|P|', 'Jolly|Kate|K|', 'Denley|John|J|', 'Lewis|Amanda|A|', 'Daley|Amanda J|AJ|']
D001835:Body Weight D005260:Female D006302:Health Services Research D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009042:Motivation D009765:Obesity D050177:Overweight D012648:Self Care D012944:Social Support D013689:Telephone D015431:Weight Loss
self-weighing weight maintenance obesity behaviour change