Research

Adherence

Adherence to self-monitoring behaviors (daily weigh-ins, activity tracker use, and step counts) and engagement with expert coaching (via web-based messages and sessions) are significantly associated with achieving clinically significant weight loss (≥5%) and high-performing weight loss (≥10%) in a commercial weight-loss program.

To maximize your chances of losing weight, adopt a routine of daily self-monitoring. Weigh yourself every day using a connected scale, wear an activity tracker daily, and aim for personalized step goals. Additionally, actively engage with your coach through regular check-ins and web-based messages. This consistent adherence to self-monitoring and coaching is strongly linked to achieving significant weight loss.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
High-performing participants show greater adherence to self-monitoring behaviors of weighing in, number of days wearing an activity tracker, and average number of steps per day. Female high performers have higher coaching engagement through conversation days and total number of coaching conversations.
Stefanie Painter et al. · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · 2016

Why this rating

Retrospective analysis of real-world data with a large sample size (n=2720 initially, n=1075 at 12 months), but lacks randomization and control groups, limiting causal inference.

Source

Retrofit Weight-Loss Outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 Months and Characteristics of 12-Month High Performers: A Retrospective Analysis

Stefanie Painter et al. · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · 2016

DOI 10.2196/mhealth.5873

case_series · n=2720Cited 19×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →