A low-burden, self-weighing intervention to prevent weight gain in adults with obesity who do not enroll in comprehensive treatment.

Abstract

Background: For individuals who are eligible but unlikely to join comprehensive weight loss programs, a low burden self-weighing intervention may be a more acceptable approach to weight management.

Methods: This was a single-arm feasibility trial of a 12-month self-weighing intervention. Participants were healthcare patients with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² with a weight-related comorbidity or a BMI >30 kg/m² who reported lack of interest in joining a comprehensive weight loss program, or did not enroll in a comprehensive program after being provided program information. In the self-weighing intervention, participants were asked to weigh themselves daily on a cellular connected scale and were sent text messages every other week with tailored weight change feedback, including messages encouraging use of comprehensive programs if weight gain occurred.

Results: Of 86 eligible patients, 39 enrolled (45.3%) in the self-weighing intervention. Self-weighing occurred on average 4.6 days/week (SD = 1.4). At 12 months, 12 participants (30.8%) lost ≥3% baseline weight, 11 (28.2%) experienced weight stability (±3% baseline), 6 (15.4%) gained ≥3% of baseline weight, and 10 (25.6%) did not have available weight data to evaluate. Three participants reported joining a weight loss program during the intervention (7.7%). Participants reported high intervention satisfaction in quantitative ratings (4.1 of 5), and qualitative interviews identified areas of satisfaction (e.g., timing and content of text messages) and areas for improvement (e.g., increasing personalization of text messages).

Conclusion: A low-burden self-weighing intervention can reach adults with overweight/obesity who would be unlikely to engage in comprehensive weight loss programs; the efficacy of this intervention for preventing weight gain should be further evaluated in a randomized trial.