Baker, R.B. & Kirschenbaum, D.S. (1993).

Self-monitoring may be necessary Self-monitoring may be necessary for successful weight controlfor successful weight control..

Behavior Therapy, 24(3), 377-394.

56 Participants (48 women, 8 men)

VariablesVariables

The monitoring of:

(3) food; (4) calories; (5) water; (6) weight; (7) type of situation; (8) where food was consumed; (9) with whom food was consumed; (10) water consumption; (11) event or (12) situation in which food was consumed; (13) exercise; (14) mood; (15) fat consumption; (16) caloric total; and (17) “other variables”

(1) Whether participants monitored on a particular day(2) Whether monitoring included the entire day or only a portion of the day

Significant Monitoring VariablesSignificant Monitoring VariablesVariables monitored that were positively correlated

with weight change:– 1) Any food eaten– 2) All food eaten– 3)Time food eaten– 4) Quantity of food eaten– 5) Grams of consumed fat

Variables monitored that were negatively correlated with weight change:– 6) Not monitoring

Self-Monitoring DiarySelf-Monitoring Diary

Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 1Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 1

Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 2Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 2

Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 3Sample Self Monitoring Diary - 3

Calculation of Monitoring IndexCalculation of Monitoring Index monitoring of all food items eaten+ monitoring of any food eaten+ monitoring time food was eaten+ monitoring of quantity of food eaten+ monitoring of grams of consumed fat- not monitoring------------------------------------------------------

““Monitoring Index”Monitoring Index”

Monitoring Index RangesMonitoring Index Ranges

No monitoring for an entire week = -7 Complete monitoring for entire week = +35

– Range per week = (-7 to +35 per week) 12 weeks range: -84 to +420 18 weeks range: -126 to +630

– 12 Weeks: Q1 –84 to 42; Q2 43 to 168; Q3 169 to 294; Q4 295 to 420

– 18 weeks: Q1 -126 to 62; Q2 64 to 252; Q3 253 to 441; Q4 442 to 630

Figure 1. Percentage of days on which all food Figure 1. Percentage of days on which all food

was monitored.was monitored.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-100%

12 Weeks

18Weeks

Figure 2. Percentage of subjects at each quartile.Figure 2. Percentage of subjects at each quartile.

05

1015202530354045

1 2 3 4

Quartiles

12 Weeks

18 Weeks

Figure 3. Mean weight change for low and high Figure 3. Mean weight change for low and high monitors comparing their best to worst monitoring monitors comparing their best to worst monitoring

(based on monitoring index data)(based on monitoring index data)

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

Low Monitors High Monitors

Worst Weeks

Best Weeks

Figure 4. Subjects who lost weight per quartile of Figure 4. Subjects who lost weight per quartile of monitoring index.monitoring index.

0102030405060708090

100

1 2 3 4

12 Weeks

18 Weeks

Figure 5. Mean weight change per quartile of Figure 5. Mean weight change per quartile of monitoring index.monitoring index.

-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

1 2 3 4

12 Weeks

18 Weeks

Figure 6. Mean weigh loss for subject’s who lost weight Figure 6. Mean weigh loss for subject’s who lost weight at 12 weeks but had variability in their monitoring index at 12 weeks but had variability in their monitoring index versus subjects who lost weight at 12 weeks but had no versus subjects who lost weight at 12 weeks but had no

variability in their monitoring indexes.variability in their monitoring indexes.

-9.41

-19.86

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

Variability No Variability

Weight Change

Figure 7. Actual weight losses for subjects with Figure 7. Actual weight losses for subjects with no variability in monitoring index at 12 weeks.no variability in monitoring index at 12 weeks.

6

-4.5 -5.5-11

-18

-31

-54

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

SummarySummaryNot all participants monitored t particularly

high levels.Monitoring: 1) Any food eaten, 2) All food

eaten, 3) Time food eaten, 4)Quantity of food eaten, 5) Grams of consumed fat, and 6) Not monitoring were correlated with total weight change.

SummarySummaryHigher level monitors lost more weight than

lower level monitors (between S’s).The highest level monitors with no

variability lost the most weight.Regardless of one’s level of monitoring,

people lost more weight during the weeks they monitored at their highest personal level (within S’s).

Impressions & SuggestionsImpressions & Suggestions “Increased attentional focus” via self-monitoring

appears beneficial in the management of weight problems.

Longer term treatment may be effective due to “process” rather than “content”.

The importance of self-monitoring should be emphasized early in treatment.

Focus of treatment should be on behavior, not weight loss per se.

“Obsessive compulsive self-regulation” appears particularly beneficial.