SELF-MONITORING MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT CONTROL

The relationship between self-monitoring and weight control was examined closely by analyzing 18 weeks of data for 56 participants in a long-term cognitive behavioral weight-loss program. The percentage of subjects who monitored consistently, which monitoring variables were most related to weight change, and the effect of variability in monitoring on weight change were examined. Approximately 2/3 of the subjects monitored food consumption for the entire day more than half of the days; approximately 1/4 did not monitor on most days. Monitoring - any food eaten, all foods eaten, time food was eaten, quantity of food eaten, and grams of fat consumed - was positively correlated with weight change. Not monitoring at all was negatively associated with weight change. More consistent monitors lost more weight and participants lost much more weight during their best, compared to their worst, weeks of monitoring. These results support the notions that self-monitoring, and perhaps ''obsessive-compulsive self-regulation,'' are necessary for successful weight control.