Dr. Varady, I'm hoping you will see this, or that one of your friends and associates will point it out to you. I apologize for the length of the post, but I wanted to be as clear and complete as possible.
I am writing to take issue with one topic in your book. You say that people who weigh daily lose more weight than people who weigh weekly or monthly.
I am appalled that you, as a reputable scientist, have selectively quoted the literature to support your personal opinion. We all know how dishonest this is.
YOU SAID:
“people lost 1 pound more for every 11 days they self-weighed. In other words, if you weigh yourself every day for a month, you lose about 3 pounds more than folks who don’t.”
First, the second sentence of this quote does not follow logically from the first sentence.
Second, the following is the text of the actual study abstract. Italics are mine.
Results
Self-weighing was a significant predictor of body weight over time. Participants lost about 1 extra pound for every 11 days they self-weighed during treatment. In addition, participants who self-weighed at least weekly were 11 times more likely to lose at least 5% of their pretreatment weight after 6 months. Improvements attenuated after 12 months.
Conclusions
Self-weighing may be a strategy to enhance behavioral weight loss programs. Weekly self-weighing seems to be a reasonable, evidence-supported recommendation for successful weight loss, but more research is warranted to determine the independent contribution of self-weighing to successful weight loss, as well as its potential risk of negative psychological impact.
YOU SAID:
“11 of 12 studies showed that self-weighing was linked to more weight loss and better weight maintenance.”
The following is the text of the actual study abstract. Italics are mine.
Results
Twelve studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, but nearly half received low evidence grades in terms of methodological quality. Findings from 11 of the 12 reviewed studies indicated that more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater weight loss or weight gain prevention. Specifically, individuals who reported self-weighing weekly or daily, typically over a period of several months, held a 1 to 3 kg/m2 (current) advantage over individuals who did not self-weigh frequently. The effects of self-weighing in experimental studies, especially those where self-weighing behaviors could be isolated, were less clear.
Conclusions
Based on the consistency of the evidence reviewed, frequent self-weighing, at the very least, seems to be a good predictor of moderate weight loss, less weight regain, or the avoidance of initial weight gain in adults. More targeted research is needed in this area to determine the causal role of frequent self-weighing in weight loss/weight gain prevention programs. Other open questions to be pursued include the optimal dose of self-weighing, as well as the risks posed for negative psychological consequences.
Dr. Varady, I started intermittent fasting (5:2) in mid-March, 2013. For two and a half months, I carefully followed the (very minimal) strictures of the diet. I did not weigh myself. At the end of June, I had lost 11 of the 22 pounds I planned to lose. Would I have lost weight faster/ lost more weight by daily weighing? Of course not. Do I recommend this approach for everyone? Of course not, again. Part of the IF approach that makes it so successful is how tailorable it is to individual needs.
Since the end of June, I have been weighing approximately weekly, and am about down to my goal weight. Would I have lost weight faster with daily weighing? Of course not, again. And I wouldn’t have wanted to lose faster, since the research, at least on non-obese subjects, says that slow and steady is best. But mine is just one story among so many, and I am 100% supportive of those who choose to weigh daily. Note that the operative word here is "choose".
So, Dr. Varady, I hope that the next time you write a book (or put out another edition of your current one), you will do two things differently.
1. Not “pick and choose” from the literature what conclusions support your own beliefs.
2. Couch your beliefs more carefully. “My research indicates that most obese people will lose weight more quickly by weighing daily” is probably a true and valid statement. Many of the statements in the section of your book devoted to frequency of weighing are not.
I am writing to take issue with one topic in your book. You say that people who weigh daily lose more weight than people who weigh weekly or monthly.
I am appalled that you, as a reputable scientist, have selectively quoted the literature to support your personal opinion. We all know how dishonest this is.
YOU SAID:
“people lost 1 pound more for every 11 days they self-weighed. In other words, if you weigh yourself every day for a month, you lose about 3 pounds more than folks who don’t.”
First, the second sentence of this quote does not follow logically from the first sentence.
Second, the following is the text of the actual study abstract. Italics are mine.
Results
Self-weighing was a significant predictor of body weight over time. Participants lost about 1 extra pound for every 11 days they self-weighed during treatment. In addition, participants who self-weighed at least weekly were 11 times more likely to lose at least 5% of their pretreatment weight after 6 months. Improvements attenuated after 12 months.
Conclusions
Self-weighing may be a strategy to enhance behavioral weight loss programs. Weekly self-weighing seems to be a reasonable, evidence-supported recommendation for successful weight loss, but more research is warranted to determine the independent contribution of self-weighing to successful weight loss, as well as its potential risk of negative psychological impact.
YOU SAID:
“11 of 12 studies showed that self-weighing was linked to more weight loss and better weight maintenance.”
The following is the text of the actual study abstract. Italics are mine.
Results
Twelve studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, but nearly half received low evidence grades in terms of methodological quality. Findings from 11 of the 12 reviewed studies indicated that more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater weight loss or weight gain prevention. Specifically, individuals who reported self-weighing weekly or daily, typically over a period of several months, held a 1 to 3 kg/m2 (current) advantage over individuals who did not self-weigh frequently. The effects of self-weighing in experimental studies, especially those where self-weighing behaviors could be isolated, were less clear.
Conclusions
Based on the consistency of the evidence reviewed, frequent self-weighing, at the very least, seems to be a good predictor of moderate weight loss, less weight regain, or the avoidance of initial weight gain in adults. More targeted research is needed in this area to determine the causal role of frequent self-weighing in weight loss/weight gain prevention programs. Other open questions to be pursued include the optimal dose of self-weighing, as well as the risks posed for negative psychological consequences.
Dr. Varady, I started intermittent fasting (5:2) in mid-March, 2013. For two and a half months, I carefully followed the (very minimal) strictures of the diet. I did not weigh myself. At the end of June, I had lost 11 of the 22 pounds I planned to lose. Would I have lost weight faster/ lost more weight by daily weighing? Of course not. Do I recommend this approach for everyone? Of course not, again. Part of the IF approach that makes it so successful is how tailorable it is to individual needs.
Since the end of June, I have been weighing approximately weekly, and am about down to my goal weight. Would I have lost weight faster with daily weighing? Of course not, again. And I wouldn’t have wanted to lose faster, since the research, at least on non-obese subjects, says that slow and steady is best. But mine is just one story among so many, and I am 100% supportive of those who choose to weigh daily. Note that the operative word here is "choose".
So, Dr. Varady, I hope that the next time you write a book (or put out another edition of your current one), you will do two things differently.
1. Not “pick and choose” from the literature what conclusions support your own beliefs.
2. Couch your beliefs more carefully. “My research indicates that most obese people will lose weight more quickly by weighing daily” is probably a true and valid statement. Many of the statements in the section of your book devoted to frequency of weighing are not.
