Table 1 Intervention components using the CALO-RE behavioural change taxonomy [14]

Goal setting (outcome)

Telephonists encourage participants to set a weight goal for regain such as ‘In a year I aim to weigh no more than I do now’.

Prompt review of outcome goals

Participants will be instructed to remain within 1 kg of their study baseline weight and to review their weight each day against this target.

Provide information on the consequences of behaviour in general

Telephonists discuss the benefits of self-weighing with the participant.

Environmental restructuring

The telephonist encourages the participant to cue this behaviour ‘move the scales into your bathroom so when you see them after your shower it will remind you’.

Provide information on where and when to perform the behaviour

The telephonist asks participants to describe when and where the weighing will take place. Participants will be encouraged to weigh themselves at the same time every day.

Use follow-up prompts

Participants receive telephone calls at weeks zero, 2 and 4 that encourage daily self-weighing, together with reminder text messages every other day for the first four weeks, reducing to twice weekly thereafter.

Barrier identification/ Problem solving

The telephonists offer practical solutions and give participants ideas and strategies to overcome barriers to daily self-weighing. Participants will be advised that if their current weight is more than 1 kg above target weight then they would be best to restart following the plan they followed for eating and physical activity when they were on their weight loss programme.

Agree behavioural contract

The telephonist asks participants if they can commit to a weight change target and to daily weighing.

Provided general encouragement

The telephonist encourages the participant ‘remember every time you record your weight you are one step nearer to this becoming a healthy habit’’

Prompt self-monitoring of behavioural outcome

Participants will be advised to weigh themselves daily and record it on the record card provided

Prompt social support

Prompt participants to ask someone they care about to support them. Participant are advised to tell this person their goal and ask them to remind the participant of this goal and check commitment to it and whether it has been achieved every week.