Daily Self-Weighing May Not Be a Bad Habit After All
Women who weigh themselves everyday are more likely to lose weight over a 2-year period compared with those who weigh themselves less frequently, according to a recent study.1
In the study, 294 college-aged women of varying weight statuses completed self-weighing questionnaires. The researchers measured participants’ body mass index (BMI) at baseline and at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups. Body fat percentage was measured at baseline and at 6-month and 2-year follow-up using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Multilevel models were used to examine the relationship between daily self-weighing and trajectories of BMI and body fat percentage.
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According to the researchers’ findings, daily self-weighing was associated with significant declines in BMI and body fat percentages over 2 years. Participants who had reported at least one period of daily self-weighing had avoided weight gain and experienced weight loss, as well as changes to their BMI. In addition, those who had weighed themselves daily had had higher BMIs and greater body fat percentages at baseline compared with other participants.
“Regularly weighing yourself can motivate you to engage in healthy eating and exercise behaviors, because it provides you with evidence that these behaviors are effective in helping you lose weight or prevent weight gain,” the researchers concluded. “Similarly, if you see weight gain on the scale, that information can motivate you to make a change.”2
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
1. Rosenbaum DL, Espel HM, Butryn ML, Zhang F, Lowe MR. Daily self-weighing and weight gain prevention: a longitudinal study of college-aged women [published online July 8, 2017]. J Behav Med. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9870-y.
2. College freshmen who weighed themselves daily lost body fat [press release]. Philadelphia, PA: Drexel University; August 16, 2017. http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2017/August/College-Freshman-Self-Weighing/.