Daily self‐weighing compared with an active control causes greater negative affective lability in emerging adult women: A randomized trial

Abstract

AbstractAge‐related weight gain prevention may reduce population overweight/obesity. Emerging adulthood is a crucial time to act, as rate of gain accelerates and health habits develop. Evidence supports self‐weighing (SW) for preventing weight gain; however, how SW impacts psychological states and behaviors in vulnerable groups is unclear. This study assessed daily SW effects on affective lability, stress, weight‐related stress, body satisfaction, and weight‐control behaviors. Sixty‐nine university females (aged 18–22) were randomized to daily SW or temperature‐taking (TT) control. Over 2 weeks, participants completed five daily ecological momentary assessments with their intervention behavior. A graph of their data with a trendline was emailed daily, with no other intervention components. Multilevel mixed models with random effect for day assessed variability in positive/negative affect. Generalized linear mixed models assessed outcomes pre‐ and post‐SW or TT and generalized estimating equations assessed weight‐control behaviors. Negative affective lability was significantly greater for SW versus TT. While general stress did not differ between groups, weight‐related stress was significantly higher and body satisfaction was significantly lower post‐behavior for SW but not TT. Groups did not significantly differ in the number or probability of weight‐control behaviors. Caution is advised when recommending self‐weighing to prevent weight gain for emerging adults.