Identified mediators for medium-/long-term weight control were higher levels of autonomous motivation , self-efficacy/barriers , self-regulation skills ( such as self-monitoring ) , flexible eating restraint , and positive body image .
For physical activity , significant putative mediators were high autonomous motivation , self-efficacy , and use of self-regulation skills .
For dietary intake , the evidence was much less clear , and no consistent mediators were identified .
Conclusions This is the first systematic review of mediational psychological mechanisms of successful outcomes in obesity-related lifestyle change interventions .
Despite limited evidence , higher autonomous motivation , self-efficacy , and self-regulation skills emerged as the best predictors of beneficial weight and physical activity outcomes ; for weight control , positive body image and flexible eating restraint may additionally improve outcomes .
These variables represent possible targets for future lifestyle interventions in overweight/obese population
Background Relapse is high in lifestyle obesity interventions involving behavior and weight change .
Identifying mediators of successful outcomes in these interventions is critical to improve effectiveness and to guide approaches to obesity treatment , including re source allocation .
This article review s the most consistent self-regulation mediators of medium- and long-term weight control , physical activity , and dietary intake in clinical and community behavior change interventions targeting overweight/obese adults .
Self-Regulatory Skills Usage Strengthens the Relations of Self-Efficacy for Improved Eating, Exercise, and Weight in the Severely Obese: Toward an Explanatory Model
Lack of success with behavioral weight-management treatments indicates a need for a better underst and ing of modifiable psychological correlates . Adults with class 2 and 3 obesity ( N = 183 ; Mean BMI = 42.0 kg/m2 ) volunteered for a 26-week nutrition and exercise treatment , based on social cognitive theory , that focused on self-efficacy and self-regulation applied to increasing cardiovascular exercise and fruit and vegetable consumption .  Improved self-efficacy for controlled eating significantly predicted increased fruit and vegetable consumption ( R 2 = .15 ) . Improved self-efficacy for exercise significantly predicted increased exercise ( R 2 = .46 ) . When changes in self-regulatory skill usage were stepped into the 2 previous equations , the variances accounted for significantly increased . Increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and exercise significantly predicted weight loss ( R 2 = .38 ) . Findings suggest that behavioral theory should guide research on weight-loss treatment , and a focus on self-efficacy and self-regulatory skills applied to specific nutrition and exercise behaviors is warranted
Identified mediators for medium-/long-term weight control were higher levels of autonomous motivation , self-efficacy/barriers , self-regulation skills ( such as self-monitoring ) , flexible eating restraint , and positive body image .
For physical activity , significant putative mediators were high autonomous motivation , self-efficacy , and use of self-regulation skills .
For dietary intake , the evidence was much less clear , and no consistent mediators were identified .
Conclusions This is the first systematic review of mediational psychological mechanisms of successful outcomes in obesity-related lifestyle change interventions .
Despite limited evidence , higher autonomous motivation , self-efficacy , and self-regulation skills emerged as the best predictors of beneficial weight and physical activity outcomes ; for weight control , positive body image and flexible eating restraint may additionally improve outcomes .
These variables represent possible targets for future lifestyle interventions in overweight/obese population
Background Relapse is high in lifestyle obesity interventions involving behavior and weight change .
Identifying mediators of successful outcomes in these interventions is critical to improve effectiveness and to guide approaches to obesity treatment , including re source allocation .
This article review s the most consistent self-regulation mediators of medium- and long-term weight control , physical activity , and dietary intake in clinical and community behavior change interventions targeting overweight/obese adults .