Changes in the Perceptions of Self-weighing Across Time in a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

Abstract

Objective: Changes in beliefs about self-weighing were examined across time in a behavioral weight loss intervention.

Methods: Active duty military personnel (n = 248) enrolled in a 12-month counselor-initiated or self-paced intervention based on the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Intensive Lifestyle Intervention. Using an electronic scale, participants were asked to self-weigh daily. Self-weighing perceptions were compared from baseline to 4 months (weight loss phase), from 4 months to 12 months (weight maintenance phase), and from baseline to 12 months (full intervention), as well as across time by behavioral and demographic characteristics.

Results: Overall, participants perceived self-weighing as more helpful and positive, less frustrating, and making them less self-conscious after the weight loss phase. After weight maintenance, individuals believed self-weighing was less helpful and positive, more frustrating and anxiety provoking, and making them more self-conscious. However, after the intervention, participants still viewed self-weighing as more helpful and positive and less frustrating than at baseline. Weight change, self-weighing behavior prior to the intervention, and intervention condition were associated with perception change. Controlling for these influencing factors, differences in gender, BMI, age, ethnicity, and race were observed in how beliefs changed across time.

Conclusions: Results suggest engaging in a weight loss intervention promoting daily self-weighing increases positive and decreases negative beliefs about self-weighing.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02063178.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The opinions expressed on this document are solely those of the authors and do not represent an endorsement by or the views of the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government. The views or materials of BodyTrace™ are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

© 2018 The Obesity Society.

Figures

Figure 1.. Modeling Change in Self-Weighing Perceptions across the Intervention

Random Coefficient models observed change in self-weighing perceptions by behavioral and demographic factors. Self-weighing perceptions (x-axis) in order: Helpful, Positive, Frustrating, Anxiety-Provoking, Makes You Self-Conscious Factors of interest (y-axis) in order: overall sample, previous self-weighing frequency (i.e., 40), ethnicity (i.e., non-Hispanic/Latino, Hispanic/Latino), race (i.e., Caucasian, African American, Other) Models of demographic differences (i.e., BMI, gender, age, ethnicity, and race) adjusted for baseline covariates (i.e., intervention condition, previous self-weighing frequency) A higher score indicates a more positive (i.e., helpful, positive) perception of self-weighing. Scores for negative beliefs were reverse scored, such that, a higher score indicates a more negative (i.e., frustrating, anxiety provoking, making self-conscious) perception of self-weighing.