• Rena R Wing, Deborah Tate, Jessica Gokee LaRose, Amy A Gorin, Karen Erickson, Erica Ferguson Robichaud, Letitia Perdue, Judy Bahnson, and Mark A Espeland.
• The Miriam Hospital/Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
• Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 May 1; 23 (5): 943-9.

ObjectiveFrequent self-weighing is linked with weight management success, but concern has been raised about its possible association with unhealthy practices. This study examined the association of self-weighing with other weight control behaviors in a sample for whom frequent weighing might be questioned--namely, normal-weight or overweight (BMI of 21-29.9) young adults (age 18-35).MethodsParticipants (N = 583; mean [SD] age = 27.7 [4.4]; BMI = 25.4 [2.6]) entering the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) completed objective measures of weight and physical activity and self-reported weight history, use of healthy and unhealthy weight control strategies, depressive symptoms, and dietary intake.ResultsDaily self-weighing was reported by 11% of participants, and 23% weighed several times per week. Frequent weighing was not associated with current BMI, gender, or age but was associated with being further below one's highest weight, history of dieting, and perceived difficulty maintaining weight. Frequent weighing was associated with healthy weight management strategies, but not with unhealthy practices or depressive symptoms.ConclusionsIn this sample, frequent self-weighing appears to be part of a constellation of healthy weight control behaviors used to counteract a perceived tendency toward weight gain. SNAP follow-up will determine whether frequent self-weighing helps prevent weight gain.© 2015 The Obesity Society.

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