Few topics are more debated in health than the value of the humble bathroom scale. Some experts advocate daily self-weigh-ins to promote accountability for weight management, particularly when we’re following a diet and exercise programme to lose weight.
Others suggest ditching self-weigh-ins altogether, arguing they can trigger negative psychological responses and unhealthy behaviours when we don’t like, or understand, the number we see on the scale.
Many, like me, recommend using scales to weigh yourself weekly, even when we’re not trying to lose weight. Here’s why.
1. WEIGHING WEEKLY HELPS YOU MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT
Research confirms regular self-weighing is an effective weight loss and management strategy, primarily because it helps increase awareness of our weight and any changes.
A review of 12 studies found participants who weighed themselves weekly or daily over several months lost 1-3 BMI (body mass index) units more and regained less weight than participants who didn’t weight themselves frequently. The weight-loss benefit was evident with weekly weighing, there was no added benefit with daily weighing.
Self-weigh-ins are an essential tool for weight management as we age. Adults tend to gain weight through middle age. While the average weight gain is typically between 0.5-1kg per year, this modest accumulation of weight can lead to obesity over time. Weekly weighing and keeping track of the results helps avoid unnecessary weight gain.
Tracking our weight can also help identify medical issues early.
2. WEEKLY WEIGHING ACCOUNTS FOR NORMAL FLUCTUATIONS
Our body weight can fluctuate within a single day and across the days of the week. Studies show body weight fluctuates by 0.35% within the week and is typically higher after the weekend.
Daily and day-to-day body weight fluctuations have several causes, many linked to our body’s water content.
The more common causes include:
The type of food we’ve consumed
When we’ve eaten a dinner higher in carbohydrates, we’ll weigh more the next day. This change is a result of our bodies temporarily carrying more water. We retain 3-4g of water per gram of carbohydrate consumed to store the energy we take from carbs.
Our water content also increases when we consume foods higher in salt. Our bodies try to maintain a balance of sodium and water. When the concentration of salt in our bloodstream increases, a mechanism is triggered to restore balance by retaining water to dilute the excess salt.
Our food intake
Whether it’s 30g of nuts or 65g of lean meat, everything we eat and drink has weight, which increases our body weight temporarily while we digest and metabolise what we’ve consumed.
Our weight also tends to be lower first thing in the morning after our food intake has been restricted overnight and higher in the evening after our daily intake of food and drinks.
Exercise
If we weigh ourselves at the gym after a workout, there’s a good chance we’ll weigh less due to sweat-induced fluid loss. The amount of water lost varies depending on things like our workout intensity and duration, the temperature and humidity, along with our sweat rate and hydration level. On average, we lose 1 litre of sweat during an hour of moderate-intensity exercise.
Hormonal changes
Fluctuations in hormones within a woman’s menstrual cycle can also affect fluid balance. Women may experience fluid retention and temporarily gain 0.5-2kg of weight at this time.
Bowel movements
Going to the bathroom can lead to small but immediate weight loss as waste is eliminated from the body. While the amount lost will vary, we generally eliminate around 100g of weight through our daily bowel movements.
All of these fluctuations are normal, and they’re not indicative of significant changes in our body fat or muscle mass. However, seeing these fluctuations can lead to unnecessary stress and a fixation with our weight.
3. WEEKLY WEIGHING AVOIDS SCALE OBSESSION AND WEIGHT-LOSS SABOTAGE
Weighing too frequently can create an obsession with the number on the scales and do more harm than good.
Often, our reaction when we see this number not moving in the direction we want or expect is to further restrict our food intake or embark on fad dieting. Along with not being enjoyable or sustainable, fad diets also ultimately increase our weight gain rather than reversing it.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Weighing ourselves weekly gives a more accurate measure of our weight trends over time.
Aim to weigh yourself on the same day, at the same time and in the same environment each week — for example, first thing every Friday morning when you’re getting ready to take a shower, after you’ve gone to the bathroom, but before you’ve drunk or eaten anything.
Use the best quality scales you can afford. Change the batteries regularly and check their accuracy by using a "known" weight — for example, a 10kg weight plate. Place the "known" weight on the scale and check the measurement aligns with the "known" weight.
Remember, the number on the scale is just one part of health and weight management. Focusing solely on it can overshadow other indicators. It’s essential to pay equal attention to how we’re feeling, physically and emotionally. Stop weighing yourself if it’s triggering anxiety or stress, and get in touch with a health-care professional to discuss this.
Nick Fuller is a researcher at the University of Sydney
