title: The motivation to be sedentary predicts weight change when sedentary behaviors are reduced.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is correlated with a sedentary lifestyle, and the motivation to be active or sedentary is correlated with obesity. The present study tests the hypothesis that the motivation to be active or sedentary is correlated with weight change when children reduce their sedentary behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  The motivation to be active or sedentary, changes in weight, and accelerometer assessed physical activity were collected for 55 families with overweight/obese children who participated in a nine-week field study to examine behavior and weight change as a function of reducing sedentary behavior. Children were studied in three 3-week phases, baseline, reduce targeted sedentary behaviors by 25% and reduce targeted sedentary behaviors by 50%. The targeted sedentary behaviors included television, video game playing, video watching, and computer use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reinforcing value of sedentary behavior but not physical activity, was correlated with weight change, as losing weight was associated with lower reinforcing value of sedentary behaviors. Reducing sedentary behavior was not associated with a significant change in objectively measured physical activity, suggesting the main way in which reducing sedentary behavior influenced weight change is by complementary changes in energy intake. Estimated energy intake supported the hypothesis that reducing sedentary behaviors influences weight by reducing energy intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that the motivation to be sedentary limits the effects of reducing sedentary behavior on weight change in obese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Room G56, 3435 Main Street, Building #26, Buffalo, New York 14214-3000, USA. lhenet@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Leonard H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Roemmich
authors.forename: Meghan D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.forename: Rocco A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Paluch
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002149:Energy Intake; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014481:United States