Motivational “spill-over” during weight control: Increased self-determination and exercise intrinsic motivation predict eating self-regulation.

• DOI: 10.1037/2157-3905.1.s.49
• Publication Date: 2011-08-08T16:26:55Z
• Authors: Jutta Mata; Marlene N. Silva; Paulo N. Vieira; Eliana V. Carraça; Ana M. Andrade; Sílvia R. Coutinho; Luis B. Sardinha; Pedro J. Teixeira
• Keywords: Adult; Motivation; Portugal; Body Weight; 150; 610; Feeding Behavior; Health Promotion; Middle Aged; Overweight; Self Efficacy; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Patient Education as Topic; Weight Loss; Humans; Female; Exercise

Successful weight management relies on at least two health behaviors, eating and exercise. However, little is known about their interaction on a motivational and behavioral level. Based on the Hierarchical Model of Motivation the authors examined whether exercise-specific motivation can transfer to eating regulation during a lifestyle weight control program. The authors further investigated whether general, treatment-related, and exercise motivation underlie the relation between increased exercise and improved eating regulation.Overweight/obese women participated in a 1-year randomized controlled trial (N = 239). The intervention focused on promoting physical activity and internal motivation for exercise and weight loss, following Self-Determination Theory. The control group received general health education.General and exercise specific self-determination, eating self-regulation variables, and physical activity behavior.General self-determination and more autonomous exercise motivation predicted eating self-regulation over 12 months. Additionally, general and exercise self-determination fully mediated the relation between physical activity and eating self-regulation.Increased general self-determination and exercise motivation seem to facilitate improvements in eating self-regulation during weight control in women. These motivational mechanisms also underlie the relationship between improvements in exercise behavior and eating regulation.