Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32181749›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2020

Patterns in Weight and Physical Activity Tracking Data Preceding a Stop in Weight Monitoring: Observational Analysis.

Kerstin Frie, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Susan Jebb, Jason Oke, Paul Aveyard

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Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Kerstin FrieDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-4717-5874
Jamie Hartmann-BoyceDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-9898-3049
Susan JebbDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-9190-2920
Jason OkeDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-3467-6677
Paul AveyardDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1802-4217

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSelf-regulation for weight loss requires regular self-monitoring of weight, but the frequency of weight tracking commonly declines over time.

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether it is a decline in weight loss or a drop in motivation to lose weight (using physical activity tracking as a proxy) that may be prompting a stop in weight monitoring.

methodsWe analyzed weight and physical activity data from 1605 Withings Health Mate app users, who had set a weight loss goal and stopped tracking their weight for at least six weeks after a minimum of 16 weeks of continuous tracking. Mixed effects models compared weight change, average daily steps, and physical activity tracking frequency between a 4-week period of continuous tracking and a 4-week period preceding the stop in weight tracking. Additional mixed effects models investigated subsequent changes in physical activity data during 4 weeks of the 6-week long stop in weight tracking.

resultsPeople lost weight during continuous tracking (mean -0.47 kg, SD 1.73) but gained weight preceding the stop in weight tracking (mean 0.25 kg, SD 1.62; difference 0.71 kg; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.81). Average daily steps (beta=-220 daily steps per time period; 95% CI -320 to -120) and physical activity tracking frequency (beta=-3.4 days per time period; 95% CI -3.8 to -3.1) significantly declined from the continuous tracking to the pre-stop period. From pre-stop to post-stop, physical activity tracking frequency further decreased (beta=-6.6 days per time period; 95% CI -7.12 to -6.16), whereas daily step count on the day's activity was measured increased (beta=110 daily steps per time period; 95% CI 50 to 170).

conclusionsIn the weeks before people stop tracking their weight, their physical activity and physical activity monitoring frequency decline. At the same time, weight increases, suggesting that declining motivation for weight control and difficulties with making use of negative weight feedback might explain why people stop tracking their weight. The increase in daily steps but decrease in physical activity tracking frequency post-stop might result from selective measurement of more active days.

Indexed as

Body WeightCross-Over StudiesExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedWeight Lossactivity trackersmobile applicationsself-monitoringself-regulationweight loss

Identifiers

PMID32181749
PMCPMC7109615

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