Using Telehealth to Improve Weight Reporting Accuracy
Author Information
Author(s): Nicolaas P. Pronk, Lauren A. Crain, Jeffrey J. VanWormer, Brian C. Martinson, Jackie L. Boucher, Daniel L. Cosentino
Primary Institution: HealthPartners
Hypothesis
Can daily self-weighing and telehealth technology improve the accuracy of self-reported body weight among obese employees?
Conclusion
Self-reported body weight is generally accurate among obese employees and can be improved with daily self-monitoring.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants underreported their weight by an average of 2.06 lbs at baseline.
- The intervention group had a smaller weight discrepancy at follow-up compared to the control group.
- Daily self-weighing improved the accuracy of self-reported weight.
- Self-reported weight may be a reasonable estimate of measured weight among obese employees.
Takeaway
This study shows that when people weigh themselves every day, they can report their weight more accurately, which helps in weight loss programs.
Methodology
A 6-month randomized controlled trial with an intervention group receiving daily self-weighing and telemonitoring.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported weights due to social desirability.
Limitations
The study only included obese employees and may not generalize to other populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants were obese employees, aged 18 and older, with a BMI ≥ 32 kg/m2.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.036
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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