title: High trait self-control predicts positive health behaviors and success in weight loss.
abstract: Surprisingly few studies have explored the intuitive connection between self-control and weight loss. We tracked participants' diet, exercise and weight loss during a 12-week weight loss program. Participants higher in self-control weighed less and reported exercising more than their lower self-control counterparts at baseline. Independent of baseline differences, individuals high in dispositional self-control ate fewer calories overall and fewer calories from fat, burned marginally more calories through exercise, and lost more weight during the program than did those lower in self-control. These data suggest that trait self-control is, indeed, an important predictor of health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. crescioni@psy.fsu.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Will Crescioni
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehrlinger
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alquist
authors.forename: Kyle E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.forename: Roy F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schatschneider
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dutton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult