Daily Self-Weighing to Prevent Holiday-Associated Weight Gain in Adults

Objective: Holiday weight gain is reported to be 0.4 to 1.5 kg and may contribute to annual weight gain. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of daily self-weighing (DSW) using visual graphical feedback (GF) to prevent holiday weight gain.

Methods: A total of 111 adults were randomly assigned into a control or DSW + GF group and completed the preholiday visit (v1; before Thanksgiving), the postholiday visit (v2; after New Year's Day), and the follow-up visit (v3; 14 weeks after v2). The participants in the DSW + GF group performed DSW with Wi-Fi scales during the holidays and were told to try not to gain weight above baseline weight.

Results: There was no change in weight with DSW + GF, whereas the control group gained weight from v1 to v2 (-0.13 ± 0.27 kg vs. 2.65 ± 0.33 kg, P < 0.001, respectively). In the control group, weight change was similar between individuals with overweight or obesity (OW/OB) versus individuals with normal weight (2.71 ± 0.48 kg vs. 2.62 ± 0.43 kg, not significant, respectively). For DSW + GF, individuals with OW/OB lost weight whereas those with normal weight maintained weight during the holidays (-1.46 ± 0.62 kg vs. 0.33 ± 0.27 kg, P = 0.01, respectively). The control group lost weight during the follow-up (-1.14 ± 0.43 kg, P = 0.01; v2 to v3) but retained 57% of weight gain; therefore, weight gain from v1 to v3 was significant (1.51 ± 0.39 kg, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: DSW + GF was a successful approach to prevent holiday weight gain, with those with OW/OB responding most favorably to DSW + GF.