Updated on March 28, 2022.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important to your overall well-being. Not only can it boost your energy level, but it can also reduce your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and some cancers, too. In fact, reducing your body weight by only 5 to 10 percent can lower your risk for heart disease and other conditions.
Despite the associated risks, 42.4 percent of American adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But fortunately, for many people, adopting healthy habits—and using the proper tools to reinforce those habits—can help you manage your weight.
We all know following an exercise regimen and eating a well-balanced diet made up of lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats (like avocado and olive oil, in moderation), and lots of fruits and veggies form the foundation of a weight loss plan. But setting specific and realistic weight goals and monitoring your progress can be just as important.
How tracking boosts weight loss
One study conducted by researchers at Cornell University and published in 2015 in the Journal of Obesity found that frequent self-weighing at home—and tracking results—helped study participants lose weight and keep it off. Why? Seeing a data-backed link between tracking weight loss and healthy behaviors helped reinforce those behaviors.
A 2021 analysis published in Obesity that looked at 39 studies backed those findings up. The more closely people tracked their efforts to manage their weight using digital health tools—such as websites, wearable devices, mobile apps, or digital scales—the more weight they tended to lose.
Start with a weight loss app
Are you ready to start tracking your weight loss? Grab your journal and pen or reach for your smartphone. Sharecare, available for iOS and Android, can help you monitor your progress and achieve your weight loss goals. Here’s how to get started.
For Android and iOS users:
- Track weight by inputting your daily measurement via the Tracker.
For desktop users:
- If you don’t have a mobile device, weight can be tracked manually via the desktop Tracker.
