Expert opinions on reducing dietary self‐monitoring burden and maintaining efficacy in weight loss programs: A Delphi study

OBJECTIVE: Dietary self‐monitoring is consistently related to both short‐ and long‐term weight loss, but typically declines over time. Adopting an abbreviated approach to self‐monitoring might reduce burden and potentially increase engagement while maintaining efficacy. METHODS: Using a Delphi‐type study, experts were queried about abbreviated self‐monitoring approaches that might best balance efficacy and burden and asked to identify when these approaches might best be implemented within a behavioral weight loss program. Experts were surveyed three times until consensus was reached. RESULTS: Experts identified three main categories of promising strategies for abbreviated self‐monitoring regardless of whether individuals have been successful with weight loss or full dietary self‐monitoring: (1) self‐weighing only, (2) reducing the foods/beverages self‐monitored to those that are often less routine and higher in caloric density, and (3) reducing the number of days per week to engage in full dietary self‐monitoring. Experts recommended transitioning to abbreviated self‐monitoring after 2 weeks of no self‐monitoring among individuals who were struggling and after reaching 5%–10% weight loss among successful individuals. CONCLUSIONS: These expert opinions offer a foundation to experimentally manipulate promising strategies for reducing burden and increasing long‐term engagement in self‐monitoring, with a goal of enhancing long‐term weight control.