title: Experiential or behavioral processes: which one is prominent in physical activity? Examining the processes of change 1 year after an intervention of therapeutic education among adults with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although physical activity (PA) is essential, most obese people will not engage in its practice. The transtheoretical model (TTM) and its processes of change (POC) contribute to the understanding of behavior change regarding PA. The present study aimed to test how POC are associated with a progression through the stages of change (SOC) and whether they predict BMI change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional study. A total of 134 subjects participated in an education program, were called at 1 year and 62 of them provided follow-up data. Participants completed the SOC and POC questionnaires at baseline, at 1 year and were classified according to their SOC progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants who progressed through SOC lost more weight (p<0.001). Significant interactions were found for three out of five POC (p<0.05). Progression through SOC was associated with an increased use of POC. Weight loss was predicted by two behavioral POC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the previous cross-sectional studies showing that physically active people use more frequently POC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings support the development of TTM-grounded behavioral interventions targeted to obese patients. Identifying methods to promote POC use to improve adherence to weight guidelines may lead to improved clinical outcomes and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Laboratory Epsylon EA4556, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Unit of Nutrition and Diabetes, University Hospital of Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France. Electronic address: ajromain@outlook.fr.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Romain
authors.affiliation: Unit of Nutrition and Diabetes, University Hospital of Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Attalin
authors.affiliation: Unit of Nutrition and Diabetes, University Hospital of Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France; INSERM U1046, Physiology and Experimental Medicine of Heart and Muscle, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Unit of Nutrition and Diabetes, University Hospital of Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boegner
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Laboratory Epsylon EA4556, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gernigon
authors.affiliation: Unit of Nutrition and Diabetes, University Hospital of Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France; INSERM U1046, Physiology and Experimental Medicine of Heart and Muscle, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avignon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Behavior change; Physical activity; Processes of change; Transtheoretical model; Weight loss