The WEIGH Study: Weighing to Improve and Gain Health

Summary

The purpose of this research project is to assess the efficacy of a weight loss intervention for chronic disease prevention that focuses on daily self-weighing as the primary self-monitoring strategy compared to a delayed-intervention control group. While daily self-weighing has been shown to be effective for weight loss in observational research, there is limited experimental evidence testing this association and most is derived from intensive interventions that may overshadow the effects of self-weighing. To mitigate this, the investigators will examine whether daily self-weighing is effective for weight loss under self-directed conditions using a randomized-controlled design.

The investigators will conduct a 6-month randomized trial in 88 overweight and obese adults to compare a daily self-weighing intervention to a delayed-intervention control group. Changes in weight, diet and physical activity, and psychosocial measures will be examined.

Main Study Hypothesis: Participants in the group randomized to receive the daily self-weighing intervention will have greater percent weight loss at 6 months compared to those in the delayed control group.

Secondary Hypothesis: Participants in the group receiving the daily self-weighing intervention will report greater engagement in diet and physical activity behaviors that produce caloric deficits, greater self-efficacy and motivation, and no differences in body satisfaction, disordered eating, or depressive symptoms compared to those in the control group.

Conditions

• Overweight and Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Daily Self-weighing + weekly feedback+ weekly lessons

Daily self-weighing as a form of self-monitoring of body weight using a smart scale that sends their weights directly to a website (www.bodytrace.com) via the cellular network. They will be able to review weight trends overtime on this website via a graph showing both changes in weight and BMI. They will also receive weekly emailed feedback on their weight loss progress and compliance to the daily self-weighing prescription from a registered dietitian, as well as weekly emailed lessons with content related to behavioral weight control (e.g, how to control portion sizes, how to develop and exercise routine).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dori M Steinberg, PhD, MS, RD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Deborah Tate, PhD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-02-28

Primary Completion

2011-08-31

Completion

2011-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations