The role of self-monitoring in the maintenance of weight loss success

• We examined the categorical responses to weight loss treatment.
• Participants showed three separate patterns of weight loss in response to treatment.
• Frequent self-monitoring is associated with high rates of weight loss during behavioral treatment and extended care.

IntroductionSelf-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.MethodsThe 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 ± 5.1 kg/m2, age = 59.9 ± 6.2 years) enrolled in a behavioral weight loss program.ResultsCluster 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).ConclusionThese results highlight the importance of continuing self-monitoring after the initial phase of treatment to maintain lost weight.