Accountability and Weight Loss:

Findings from Our First Experiment

Introduction

Does having someone to keep you accountable help you lose weight?

Accountability has always been a buzzword in the world of weight loss, but how much of a difference does it actually make? That’s the question we set out to answer with a controlled experiment launched in November 2024.

Our goal? To see if structured accountability and support really influence weight loss outcomes. By using a randomized design, we aimed to uncover solid, data-backed evidence about the effectiveness of accountability strategies.

Let’s dive into what we discovered!

Methodology

The Design

We used a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which means we split the participants into two groups:

Test Group: Received structured accountability support from our Habit Companions.
Control Group: Minimal contact, just a couple of reminders but no structured accountability.
The Timeline

The experiment ran for six weeks, starting with an initial weigh-in and ending with a final weigh-in.
Who Participated?

We recruited participants through Facebook and Instagram ads. To encourage sign-ups, we offered participation incentives like a $10 Amazon gift card and a chance to win cash prizes—no weight loss was required to qualify.
The Numbers

218 people showed interest.
40 were placed in the test group.
The remaining 178 were in the control group.

The Experiment

Weigh-Ins

All participants needed to submit photos of their weigh-ins at the start and end of the study. The test group also shared weight updates during their accountability calls.

Test Group Support

Participants in the test group received structured support, including:

Weekly calls (up to two 10-minute calls per week).
Monthly planning sessions (up to two 20-minute calls).
Unlimited text message support.
Recipe lists, email reminders, and other resources.

Control Group Contact

The control group received just two reminder emails:

Midway through the study.
One week before the final weigh-in.

What We Found

Participant Rates

Test Group: 11 out of 40 invitees completed the initial weigh-in; 6 completed the final weigh-in.

Control Group: 26 out of 178 participants completed the initial weigh-in; 17 completed the final weigh-in.

Weight Loss Results

Test Group	Control Group
88.9% (5 of 6) lost at least 2.2 pounds	47.1% (8 of 17) lost at least 0.9 pounds
Average weight loss: 6.16 pounds	Average weight loss: 4.4 pounds
One participant gained 0.4 pounds	Some gained weight, with an average gain of 2.0 pounds

Key Takeaways

Accountability Works: Participants in the test group were almost twice as likely to lose weight compared to the control group.
Support Matters: Regular check-ins, structured communication, and personalized recommendations seemed to make a big difference in helping people stay on track.
Room for Improvement: Future studies should focus on keeping more participants engaged and consider the impact of seasonal timing.

Challenges We Faced

Low Participation: Only 23 people completed the final weigh-in, which was fewer than we expected.
Holiday Timing: The study ran during Thanksgiving, a major holiday that might have affected results.
Participant Demographics: Most participants were women, with only four men in the study. Many in the test group were working moms, retirees, or grandparents, which could influence the outcomes.

What This Means

This study shows that accountability can have a big impact on weight loss. Even with challenges like low retention and holiday timing, the structured support system helped participants stay focused and see results.

Moving forward, we’ll work on improving retention rates, avoiding holiday seasons, and refining the process to make it even more effective. Stay tuned for updates as we continue exploring how accountability can help people reach their goals!

Statistical Summary

Category	Test Group	Control Group
Participants Completing Initial Weigh-In	11	26
Participants Completing Final Weigh-In	6	17
Weight Loss Achieved (≥2.2 lbs)	88.9%	47.1%
Average Weight Loss (lbs)	6.16	4.4