The effect of physical activity on weight loss is mediated by eating self-regulation.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested whether different forms of physical activity (PA) were associated with eating self-regulation during weight control, and if changes in eating behavior mediated the relationship between PA and weight loss, in overweight/obese women.


METHODS
239 women (37.6+/-7.0 years; 31.3+/-4.1kg/m(2)) participated. The intervention group received a 12-month group behavioral treatment designed to increase autonomy and self-regulation for weight control. Controls received a health education program. Assessments included body weight, structured and lifestyle exercise/PA, and eating self-regulation.


RESULTS
Moderate+vigorous and lifestyle PA were associated with 12-month change in most eating variables (p<0.05) and with body weight change (p<0.01). Mediation analysis showed that flexible cognitive restraint and emotional eating fully mediated the relation between lifestyle PA and weight change (effect ratio: 0.63). About 34% of the effect of moderate+vigorous PA on weight change was explained by these same mediators (partial mediation).


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise and PA may positively influence weight control through eating self-regulation. Flexible dietary control and reduced emotional overeating are mechanisms by which an active lifestyle can contribute to long-term weight management.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular exercise and PA can contribute to improved eating behaviors during weight management. This could represent an important incentive for people seeking weight control.
Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Ana M
AM
Andrade
Sílvia R
SR
Coutinho
Marlene N
MN
Silva
Jutta
J
Mata
Paulo N
PN
Vieira
Cláudia S
CS
Minderico
Kathleen J
KJ
Melanson
Fátima
F
Baptista
Luís B
LB
Sardinha
Pedro J
PJ
Teixeira
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D035061:Control Groups; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss