Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Jan;111(1):92-102.
doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2010.10.008.

Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature

Lora E Burke  1 , Jing Wang, Mary Ann Sevick
Affiliations
Review

Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature

Lora E Burke et al. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Self-monitoring is the centerpiece of behavioral weight loss intervention programs. This article presents a systematic review of the literature on three components of self-monitoring in behavioral weight loss studies: diet, exercise, and self-weighing. This review included articles that were published between 1993 and 2009 that reported on the relationship between weight loss and these self-monitoring strategies. Of the 22 studies identified, 15 focused on dietary self-monitoring, one on self-monitoring exercise, and six on self-weighing. A wide array of methods was used to perform self-monitoring; the paper diary was used most often. Adherence to self-monitoring was reported most frequently as the number of diaries completed or the frequency of log-ins or reported weights. The use of technology, which included the Internet, personal digital assistants, and electronic digital scales were reported in five studies. Descriptive designs were used in the earlier studies whereas more recent reports involved prospective studies and randomized trials that examined the effect of self-monitoring on weight loss. A significant association between self-monitoring and weight loss was consistently found; however, the level of evidence was weak because of methodologic limitations. The most significant limitations of the reviewed studies were the homogenous samples and reliance on self-report. In all but two studies, the samples were predominantly white and women. This review highlights the need for studies in more diverse populations, for objective measures of adherence to self-monitoring, and for studies that establish the required dose of self-monitoring for successful outcomes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Systematic Review Process for Weight Loss-related Self-Monitoring Methods Guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Foster GD, Makris AP, Bailer BA. Behavioral treatment of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82:230S–235S. - PubMed
    1. Kanfer FH. Self-Management methods. Pergamon Press; New York: 1991.
    1. Kanfer FH. Self-monitoring:Methodological limitations and clinical applications. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1970;35:148–152.
    1. Kanfer FH. Sachs AJaLB. The psychology of private events. Academic Press; New York: 1971. The maintenance of behavior by self-generated stimuli and reinforcement.
    1. Bandura A. Health Promotion from the Perspective of Social Cognitive Theory. Psychol Health. 1998;13:623–649.