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Technology-based support not useful to maintain weight after weight loss
Clinical Question
After losing weight, can a technology-enabled scale with tailored text messaging improve maintenance of the loss?
Bottom line
Weight lost in an active program is often found again once the program is discontinued. Unfortunately, an intervention consisting of specific planning for weight maintenance, coupled with diet and activity tracking, a high-tech scale, and tailored text messages, was no more effective than giving the scale to patients who were told their weight was being tracked. However, both groups regained less weight (approximately 4 lb) than is typical over the first year after a weight loss of at least 5% of body weight. 1b
Reference
Study design: Randomized controlled trial (single-blinded)
Funding: Government
Setting: Outpatient (any)
Synopsis
Investigators enrolled 288 patients who said they had lost at least 5% of their body weight over the previous 12 months (the researchers tried to give objective certification but had to rely on self-certification for 83% of participants). Most (77%) of the participants were women at an average weight of 188 lb (85.5 kg) and a body mass index of 30 kg/m^2 at the time of entry. The participants were randomized, using concealed allocation, to receive the intervention or to a control group. The intervention consisted of 4 parts: a single one-on-one consultation to set a plan for weight-loss management and instruction on how to use the technology, weekly online logging of diet and physical activity, daily weighing on a scale that wirelessly transmitted results to the researchers, and tailored feedback via text messages based on this information. People in the control group received a scale, were told their data would be recorded, and received general lifestyle advice via text every 3 months. Mean weight (re)gain over 12 months was 1.8 kg in both groups. This weight gain is lower than typically seen after active weight loss and may reflect the regular use of a scale or the knowledge that someone is watching the numbers. Patients who received the full intervention reported greater satisfaction with weight outcomes and greater confidence in their ability to control their weight.
Reviewer
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, MMedEd
Professor of Family Medicine
Tufts University
Boston, MA