Effect of weight-loss program using self-weighing twice a day and feedback in overweight and obese subject: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of self-weighing twice a day with a supportive program installed on a body composition monitor in overweight adults. Subjects: Sixty adults with BMI > 24 kg/m(2) were randomly assigned to either a group that weighed themselves once per day (group 1, n = 30) or a group that weighed themselves twice per day (group 2, n = 0). Intervention: Group 1 was instructed to self-weigh at the same time once per day and group 2 was instructed to self-weigh immediately after waking up in the morning and immediately before going to bed every day for twelve weeks. In addition, participants in group 2 was received the daily target setting during morning weighing and the difference between the measured weight and the target weight during bedtime weighing. Results: Average weight reduction in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2 (1.0 +/- 1.4 kg vs. 2.7 +/- 2.1 kg, p < 0.05). The proportion of participants who Lost >= 5% of their pre-program weight in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (28.6% vs. 3.6%, p <0.05). Conclusion: A self-weighing twice per day plus daily target setting and feedback is more effective in promoting weight loss than once-daily self-measurement. (C) 2012 Asian Oceanian Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.