title: Theoretical and Behavioral Mediators of a Weight Loss Intervention for Men.
abstract: Men are currently underrepresented in weight loss trials despite similar obesity rates, which limit our understanding about the most effective elements of treatment for men. The purpose of this study was to test the theoretical (autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and self-regulation) and behavioral (calorie intake, physical activity, self-weighing) mediators of a men-only, Internet-delivered weight loss intervention focused on innovative and tailored treatment elements specifically for men.
  
  
  
  Data comes from a 6-month randomized trial (N = 107) testing the intervention compared to a waitlist control group. Changes in the theoretical mediators between baseline and 3 months were tested as mediators of the intervention effect on weight change at 6 months in both single and multiple mediator models. Changes in behaviors between baseline and 6 months were tested in the same manner.
  
  
  
  The intervention produced greater weight losses compared to the control group (-5.57 kg ± 6.6 vs. -0.65 kg ± 3.3, p < 0.001) and significant changes (p's < 0.05) in most of the theoretical and behavior mediators. In multiple mediator models, changes in diet-related autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation all significantly mediated the relationship between the intervention and weight loss. The intervention effect was also mediated by changes in dietary intake and self-weighing frequency.
  
  
  
  By testing the theoretical mediators of this intervention in a multiple mediator context, this study contributes to current knowledge related to the development of weight loss interventions for men and suggests that interventions should target diet-focused constructs.
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. mcrane@umn.edu.|Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA. mcrane@umn.edu.
authors: Melissa M
authors: MM
authors: Crane
authors: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Dianne S
authors: DS
authors: Ward
authors: Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, 1001 E 5th St, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA.
authors: Lesley D
authors: LD
authors: Lutes
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: J Michael
authors: JM
authors: Bowling
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.|Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Deborah F
authors: DF
authors: Tate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004435:Eating; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000068356:Self-Control; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Behavioral intervention; Mediators; Men; Weight loss