title: Moderators of the mediated effect of intentions, planning, and saturated-fat intake in obese individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to advance our understanding of health-related theory, that is, the alleged intention-behavior gap in an obese population. It examined the mediating effects of planning on the intention-behavior relationship and the moderated mediation effects of age, self-efficacy and intentions within this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted over a five-week period. Complete data from 571 obese participants were analyzed. The moderated mediation hypothesis was conducted using multiple-regression analysis. To test our theoretical model, intentions (Week 2), action self-efficacy (Week 2), maintenance self-efficacy (Week 5), planning (Week 5), and saturated-fat intake (Weeks 1 and 5) were measured by self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As hypothesized, planning mediated the intention-behavior relationship for perceived (two-item scale) and percentage-saturated-fat intake (measured by a food frequency questionnaire). Age, self-efficacy, and intention acted as moderators in the above mediation analysis. In specific, younger individuals, those with stronger intention, and people with higher levels of maintenance self-efficacy at higher levels of planning showed greater reductions in their perceived saturated-fat intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For successful behavior change, knowledge of its mediators and moderators is needed. Future interventions targeting planning to change saturated-fat intake should be guided by people's intentions, age, and self-efficacy levels.
authors.affiliation: Unilever Discover, Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire, UK. soureti_n@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soureti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurling
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cobain
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: ChinAPaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017008:Negotiating; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D012306:Risk; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats