Self-weighing contributes to glycemic control: importance of measuring body weight

Self-monitoring of body weight is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and greater weight loss. Although regular self-weighing is also related to lower BMI in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes, the relationship between self-weighing and glycemic control has not been fully investigated. This study examined the cross-sectional association between self-weighing and glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) of 306 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. There were 192 men and 114 women (mean age 62.3 ± 12.2 years). HbA_1c was significantly lower in patients who weigh themselves more than once a day than in those who do not have a habit of daily self-weighing (7.10 ± 1.08 vs. 7.66 ± 1.30 %; P < 0.0005), even though there are no significant differences in body mass index (BMI) between groups. Higher weighing frequency and weighing in the morning was also associated with lower HbA_1c. These findings raise the possibility that frequent self-weighing contributes to favorable glycemic control independent of prospective weight loss. The study suggests that daily self-weighing should be recommended for type 2 diabetes patients as a clinical health message about glycemic control. Further studies in a larger number of patients are needed to explore the effects of weighing frequency in these contexts.