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Is self-weighing an effective tool for weight loss: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Overview of attention for article published in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, August 2015
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About this Attention Score

  • In the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age (99th percentile)
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (92nd percentile)

Mentioned by

news
14 news outlets
blogs
2 blogs
twitter
80 X users
patent
1 patent
facebook
4 Facebook pages
video
1 YouTube creator

Citations

dimensions_citation
68 Dimensions

Readers on

mendeley
132 Mendeley
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Title
Is self-weighing an effective tool for weight loss: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, August 2015
DOI 10.1186/s12966-015-0267-4
Pubmed ID
Authors

Claire D. Madigan, Amanda J. Daley, Amanda L. Lewis, Paul Aveyard, Kate Jolly

Abstract

There is a need to identify effective behavioural strategies for weight loss. Self-weighing may be one such strategy. To examine the effectiveness of self-weighing for weight loss. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials that included self-weighing as an isolated intervention or as a component within an intervention. We used sub groups to analyse differences in frequency of weighing instruction (daily and weekly) and also whether including accountability affected weight loss. Only one study examined self-weighing as a single strategy and there was no evidence it was effective (-0.5 kg 95 % CI -1.3 to 0.3). Four trials added self-weighing/self-regulation techniques to multi-component programmes and resulted in a significant difference of -1.7 kg (95 % CI -2.6 to -0.8). Fifteen trials comparing multi-component interventions including self-weighing compared with no intervention or minimal control resulted in a significant mean difference of -3.4 kg (95 % CI -4.2 to -2.6). There was no significant difference in the interventions with weekly or daily weighing. In trials which included accountability there was significantly greater weight loss (p = 0.03). There is a lack of evidence of whether advising self-weighing without other intervention components is effective. Adding self-weighing to a behavioural weight loss programme may improve weight loss. Behavioural weight loss programmes that include self-weighing are more effective than minimal interventions. Accountability may improve the effectiveness of interventions that include self-weighing.

X Demographics

X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 80 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 132 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United States 2 2%
United Kingdom 1 <1%
Unknown 129 98%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 23 17%
Student > Bachelor 22 17%
Researcher 16 12%
Student > Master 14 11%
Other 9 7%
Other 26 20%
Unknown 22 17%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 27 20%
Psychology 25 19%
Nursing and Health Professions 13 10%
Sports and Recreations 10 8%
Social Sciences 6 5%
Other 23 17%
Unknown 28 21%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 177. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 14 February 2024.
All research outputs
#226,289
of 25,374,374 outputs
Outputs from International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
#52
of 2,109 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#2,521
of 273,069 outputs
Outputs of similar age from International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
#4
of 41 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,374,374 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 99th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,109 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 29.4. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 97% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 273,069 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 41 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 92% of its contemporaries.