Associated Internal Medicine Physicians of Central Illinois

The relationship between self-monitoring and weight control was examined closely by analyzing 18 weeks of data for 56 participants in a long-term cognitive behavioral weight-loss program. The percentage of subjects who monitored consistently, which monitoring variables were most related to weight change, and the effect of variability in monitoring on weight change were examined. Approximately 2Aof the subjects moni-tored food consumption for the entire day more than half of the days; approximately did not monitor on most days. Monitoring-any food eaten, all foods eaten, time food was eaten, quantity of food eaten, and grams of fat consumed-was positively correlated with weight change. Not monitoring at all was negatively associated with weight change. More consistent monitors lost more weight and participants lost much more weight during their best, compared to their worst, weeks of monitoring. These results upport the notions that self-monitoring, and perhaps "obsessive-compulsive self-regulation, " are necessary for successful weight control. Self-monitoring is the systematic observation and recording of target be-haviors (Kanfer, 1970). Self-monitoring is sometimes described as the "cor-nerstone " (Wadden, 1993, p. 201) and the most effective technique used in be-havioral treatments ofobesity (Kirschenbaum, 1987; Perri, Nezu, & Viegener