title: Self-weighing in weight management interventions: A systematic review of literature.
abstract: Self-weighing increases a person's self-awareness of current weight and weight patterns. Increased self-weighing frequency can help an individual prevent weight gain. Literature, however, is limited in describing variability in self-weighing strategies and how the variability is associated with weight management outcomes.
  
  
  
  This review analyzed self-weighing in weight management interventions and the effects of self-weighing on weight and other outcomes.
  
  
  
  Twenty-two articles from PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, and Academic Search Premier were extracted for review.
  
  
  
  These 22 articles reported findings from 19 intervention trials, mostly on weight loss or weight gain prevention. The majority of the reviewed articles reported interventions that combined self-weighing with other self-monitoring strategies (64%), adopted daily self-weighing frequency (84%), and implemented interventions up to six months (59%). One-half of the articles mentioned that technology-enhanced or regular weight scales were given to study participants. Of the articles that provided efficacy data, 75% of self-weighing-only interventions and 67% of combined interventions demonstrated improved weight outcomes. No negative psychological effects were found.
  
  
  
  Self-weighing is likely to improve weight outcomes, particularly when performed daily or weekly, without causing untoward adverse effects. Weight management interventions could consider including this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. Electronic address: wshieh@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Research and Scholarship, Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. Electronic address: mrknisel@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: Mitchell R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Knisely
authors.affiliation: Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute, Inc, United States; Eskenazi Office of Applied Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: daniclar@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Research and Scholarship, Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. Electronic address: carpentj@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012648:Self Care; D000068356:Self-Control; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: Obesity; Self-monitoring; Self-regulation; Self-weighing; Weight loss