A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research on Thursday, Aug. 13, found that people who logged their food more frequently tended to lose more weight over six months.Users who tracked food six to seven days per week lost an average of 11.33 percent of their body weight. Those who tracked fewer than two days per week lost 6.84 percent on average.The findings came from a retrospective study of 5,132 adults using the MyNetDiary nutrition-tracking app. The participants had an average age of 42 and an average starting weight of about 202 pounds. Nearly 73 percent were women.
Eight out of 10 people in the most frequent-tracking group lost at least five percent of their body weight. That threshold is considered clinically significant.Results improved steadily as tracking frequency increased. Each additional tracking day per week was associated with 35 percent higher odds of losing at least 5 percent of body weight after adjusting for age, sex, and starting body mass index.
Perfect consistency was not required to see meaningful results. People who logged food two or fewer days per week lost an average of 7.35 percent. More than 56 percent of that group reached the five percent benchmark.Long tracking streaks were also linked to greater weight loss. Users who recorded their food intake for more than 90 consecutive days lost an average of 11.55 percent of their body weight. Those with streaks of seven days or fewer lost 4.21 percent.
The findings show an association, not proof that food logging caused the weight loss. Motivation, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, and weight-loss medications were not measured.The sample was also highly selective. Researchers analyzed data from 5,132 people among more than 412,000 new app users after applying participation and follow-up requirements.
Both authors worked for MyNetDiary. One was the company’s chief executive officer, co-founder, and an equity holder. The other was a registered dietitian nutritionist employed by the company.The researchers said the results suggest that frequent self-monitoring may support weight-management efforts, while even less frequent tracking can be associated with meaningful progress.
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