Motivational "spill-over" during weight control: increased self-determination and exercise intrinsic motivation predict eating self-regulation.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
General and exercise specific self-determination, eating self-regulation variables, and physical activity behavior.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Mata
Jutta
J
Department of Exercise and Health, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal. jmata@fmh.utl.pt
Silva
Marlene N
MN
Vieira
Paulo N
PN
Carraça
Eliana V
EV
Andrade
Ana M
AM
Coutinho
Sílvia R
SR
Sardinha
Luis B
LB
Teixeira
Pedro J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D050177:Overweight; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011174:Portugal; D020377:Self Efficacy; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult