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-determined, autonomous regulation of eating behavior is related to lower body mass index in a nationwide survey of middle-aged women.
BACKGROUND The associations among people 's level of autonomy in regulating their eating behaviors , food patterns , and degree of obesity have not been investigated in a general adult population . OBJECTIVES Our objectives were to cross-sectionally examine , in a nationally representative sample of adult New Zeal and women , the associations between different styles of eating behavior regulation  and body mass index ( BMI ) , with specific food and eating habits as hypothesized mediators . DESIGN During May 2009 , a sample of 2,500 New Zeal and women aged 40 to 50 years was r and omly selected from the nationwide electoral rolls . A 66 % ( n=1,601 ) participation rate was achieved . Potential participants were mailed a self-administered question naire containing the Regulation of Eating Behavior scale , questions on specific food and eating habits ( frequency of binge eating , speed of eating , usual daily servings of fruits and vegetables , usual frequency of intake of several high-fat and /or high-sugar foods ) , and height and weight . STATISTICAL ANALYSES Univariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations among demographic , health and behavioral variables , and BMI . Multivariate linear regression models were developed to investigate the relationships between autonomous and controlled forms of  eating behavior regulation and BMI , with specific food and eating habits as mediators . RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders as well as specific food and eating habits that were potential mediators , BMI was statistically significantly lower by 2 % ( 95 % CI -2.7 % to -1.4 % ; P<0.001 ) for every 10-unit increase in autonomous regulation , and statistically significantly higher by 1.4 % ( 95 % CI 0.4 % to 2.3 % ; P=0.005 ) for every 10-unit increase in controlled regulation . The relationships between autonomous regulation and BMI as well as controlled regulation and BMI were only partially mediated by the specific food and eating habits measured . CONCLUSIONS Although the direction of causality requires confirmation , the results provide support for the applicability of Self-Determination Theory , and suggest that developing more autonomous motivation for eating behavior is likely to facilitate healthier food habits and lower BMI in middle-aged women
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 .