Experimental research is needed to examine whether weight monitoring impacts weight and whether it has unintended harmful effects. This study randomly assigned 49 first-year university women (body mass index: 20-30 kg/m2) to daily weight monitoring or a control condition and measured weight, mood, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy weight control behaviors at baseline and 8 weeks, and weight at 20-week follow-up. No harmful effects of daily weighing were detected; acceptability and adherence were high. Weight monitoring did not impact weight; both groups showed little weight gain. Results suggest that weight monitoring has minimal harmful effects and may be useful for preventing weight gain.
Keywords: obesity; prevention; weight control; weight monitoring.
© The Author(s) 2015.