Should I Weigh Myself Daily?

If you’re using the Lose It! app, there’s a good chance you have some health initiatives that are top of mind. One popular goal is weight loss. Whether your goal is to lose 10 pounds, 100 pounds, or even maintain your current weight, you may wonder if daily weighing would be advantageous to you. As with most health-related topics, there are pros and cons, so let’s explore both so you can decide what’s best.

The Pros

Our data from millions of Lose It! users shows a positive correlation between daily weighing and weight loss. In fact, those who logged their weight daily tended to lose an average of twice as much weight.

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill followed individuals for a 6-month period. The individuals who weighed daily seemed to naturally adjust their eating and exercise habits to promote an average weight loss of 13 pounds. Those who continued weighing at their regular cadence lost less than 1 pound. The intervention group also noted that daily weighing was easy, helpful, a positive experience, and a habit they planned to maintain long term.

A literature review from the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that individuals who reported self-weighing weekly or daily for several months held a lower BMI than those who did not self-weigh frequently.

A study by the Journal of Obesity found that frequent weighing accompanied by visual feedback of weight, without a prescribed diet or exercise plan, was effective in producing a small sustainable weight loss in overweight males.

The Journal of Medical Internet Research studied which behaviors impacted weight loss outcomes the most. The study found that weighing at least three times per week and food logging at least three days per week proved to be helpful with clinically significant weight loss among male and female participants.

One of our Lose It! members, Kelly, shares that her daily weighing helps her with accountability. She states, “stepping on the scale every single morning is a big part of why I lost the weight and haven’t gained it back! I can see how my weight changes daily, keeping me in check.”

Related Reading: How to manage your reminders to log your food, update a custom goal, or weigh in

The Cons

While research does support daily weighing as a helpful tool for motivation and accountability when it comes to weight loss and weight maintenance, for some, there may be cons, too.

A literature review examined the impact of weighing on one’s psychological well-being. It found trends in research that self-weighing negatively impacted some individuals’ self-esteem and eating-related behaviors.

At Lose It!, we fully recognize and want to acknowledge that for some, the habitual activity of stepping on the scale daily may be too much. An easy adjustment may be to change the cadence of weighing down to once a week.

However, if you find that daily weighing, or weighing at all, contributes to negative feelings, anxiety, or stress, it may be better to focus on non-scale related victories instead.

Related Reading: Why Your Weight May Be Fluctuating (And Why It’s Not Worth Stressing About)

The Verdict

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to weighing oneself daily.

Current research supports daily weighing as a tool for weight loss and weight maintenance. However, research also highlights the negative impact that daily weighing may have on a psychological level.

At Lose It!, our goal is to be a positive space, so whatever you decide, we’re here to encourage, motivate, and support you to be the healthiest version of yourself.