title: Motivational "spill-over" during weight control: increased self-determination and exercise intrinsic motivation predict eating self-regulation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Health, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal. jmata@fmh.utl.pt
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Marlene N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Paulo N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Eliana V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Carraça
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Sílvia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Luis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sardinha
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: 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