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ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED SELF-WEIGHING IN BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Zheng, Yaguang (2015) ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED SELF-WEIGHING IN BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR WEIGHT LOSS. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Background: Self-weighing is a recommended but understudied weight loss strategy.
Objectives: 1) Examine the mediating effects of adherence to energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE) goals on the association between self-weighing and weight changes; 2) Identify self-weighing patterns and examine differences in adherence to EI/EE goals and weight changes across self-weighing patterns; 3) Explore participants’ experience of daily self-weighing.
Methods: The study included two methodological approaches. In the quantitative component, we conducted a secondary analysis of self-weighing data from a clinical trial (SELF) and a longitudinal, descriptive study of behavioral treatment for weight loss (EMPOWER). Outcome weight was measured every 6 months in the project office. Adherence to self-weighing protocols was calculated using data from electronic scales in the participants’ homes. Adherence to EI/EE goals was obtained from the self-monitoring data. Linear mixed modeling, mediation analysis and group-based trajectory modeling were used for analysis. In the qualitative component, we conducted three focus groups to explore participants’ experience of daily weighing. Content analysis was used to identify themes.
Results: During the first six months of the SELF study, there was a significant mediation effect of adherence to EI and EE goals on the association between adherence to self-weighing and percent weight change (indirect effect: b=-0.26, p=0.02; b=-0.23, p=0.02). Using EMPOWER study data, three patterns of self-weighing were identified: high/consistent (75.0% self-weighed ≥6 days/week regularly); moderate/declined (16.2% declined from 4-5 to 2 days/week); minimal/declined (8.8% declined from 5-6 to 0 days/week). The high/consistent group achieved greater weight loss than the other two groups at 6 months (10.19%, 5.45%, and 2.00%) and 12 months (9.90%, 5.62%, and 0.65%). Focus group data revealed reasons for daily self-weighing included feeling motivated, providing feedback for eating and exercise behaviors, and feeling in control. Reasons for not weighing daily included interruption of routine and weight gain. The main suggestion for future users of this strategy was learning to accept a normal range of weight fluctuation.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that the majority of participants were able to sustain a habit of daily self-weighing, which impacts weight changes directly and indirectly through changes in EI and EE.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Zheng, Yaguangyaz40@pitt.eduYAZ40
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairBurke, Lora Elbu100@pitt.eduLBU100
Committee MemberSereika, Susan Mssereika@pitt.eduSSEREIKA
Committee MemberEwing, Linda JEwingLJ@upmc.edu
Committee MemberDanford, Cynthia A.danfordc@pitt.eduDANFORDC
Committee MemberTerry, Martha Annmaterry@pitt.eduMATERRY
Date: 17 July 2015
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 18 June 2015
Approval Date: 17 July 2015
Submission Date: 15 July 2015
Access Restriction: 2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years.
Number of Pages: 135
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Nursing > Nursing
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Self-weighing, Weight loss, Behavior,Electronic Scale, Energy intake, Energy expenditure
Date Deposited: 17 Jul 2015 15:30
Last Modified: 17 Jul 2017 05:15
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25630

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