title: The role of self-monitoring in the maintenance of weight loss success.
abstract: Self-monitoring has been shown to be a crucial part of initial weight loss success in behavioral interventions. However, little is known about the impact of self-monitoring during the period following initial treatment.
  
  
  
  The current study examined the role of self-monitoring on weight loss during an initial 6-month intervention period (Phase 1) and a 12-month extended care period (Phase 2) in a group of 167 obese women (M±SD: BMI=37.0±5.1kg/m(2), age=59.9±6.2years) enrolled in a behavioral weight loss program.
  
  
  
  Cluster analysis identified three groups of participants with low, moderate, and high rates of weight loss success during Phase 1 and Phase 2. A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in self-monitoring frequency between groups during Phase 1 (p=.645), but significant differences between all three groups during Phase 2 (p=.001). High success participants completed the most self-monitoring records, followed by the moderate group. The low success group completed the least number of records. Furthermore, self-monitoring during Phase 2 significantly mediated the relationship between extended-care session attendance and percent weight change during that time (95% CI [-.004, -.001], p<.001).
  
  
  
  These results highlight the importance of continuing self-monitoring after the initial phase of treatment to maintain lost weight.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, P.O. Box 100165, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: laitner@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Laitner
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, P.O. Box 100165, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: sminski@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Samantha A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Minski
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, P.O. Box 100165, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: mperri@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000068959:Body Weight Maintenance; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011996:Records; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Behavioral treatment; Lifestyle intervention; Obesity; Randomized controlled trial; Self-monitoring; Weight loss