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.
Andrade
Ana M
AM
Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Coutinho
Sílvia R
SR
Silva
Marlene N
MN
Mata
Jutta
J
Vieira
Paulo N
PN
Minderico
Cláudia S
CS
Melanson
Kathleen J
KJ
Baptista
Fátima
F
Sardinha
Luís B
LB
Teixeira
Pedro J
PJ
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