Adherence to mobile-app-based dietary self-monitoring—Impact on weight loss in adults

Abstract

Objectives: Greater dietary self-monitoring adherence is associated with weight loss, however, the dietary self-monitoring adherence criteria that predict weight loss are unknown. The criteria used to define adherence to dietary self-monitoring in obesity treatment tend to vary, particularly in studies that include dietary self-monitoring via mobile applications (apps). The objectives of this study were to (a) determine weight change outcomes related to app-based dietary self-monitoring and (b) determine the associations between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of dietary self-monitoring and weight change. Methods: In this single-arm uncontrolled prospective study, employees at a large, urban health system who had overweight or obesity self-monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the Calorie Counter by FatSecret app. A paired sample t-test examined the association of app-based dietary self-monitoring and weight change; linear regression examined the associations of frequent, consistent, and complete dietary self-monitoring and weight change. Results: A significant mean difference [t (89) = 6.59, p < 0.001] was found between baseline and 8-week weight (M = −1.5 ± 2.1 kg) in the sample (N = 90). Linear regression revealed a significant association [F (1, 88) = 7.18, p = 0.009] between total weeks of consistent dietary self-monitoring (M = 4.4 ± 2.8) and percent weight loss (M = −1.54% ± 2.26%), and a significant association [F (1, 88) = 6.42, p = 0.013] between dietary self-monitoring frequency (M = 50.1% ± 33.3%) and percent weight loss. The total weeks of complete dietary self-monitoring (M = 3.42 ± 2.87) was not associated [F (1, 88) = 3.57, p = 0.062] with percent weight loss. Conclusions: Consistent and frequent app-based dietary self-monitoring were associated with short-term weight loss. Emphasizing these aspects of self-monitoring may be an avenue for decreasing the burden of self-monitoring.