Change in exercise, rather than in eating behaviors, mediate effects of changes in previously indicated psychological variables on weight during the regain phase of behavioral obesity treatments among United States women

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a worsening global epidemic. Although some progress has been made improving the requisite dietary and physical activity/exercise behaviors over the short term, their maintenance and maintenance of weight loss beyond approximately 6 months remains atypical.METHODS: This investigation focused on effects of month 6-month 12 changes in psychological predictors of maintained weight loss derived from primarily cross-sectional research during the previous 15 years, and consistent with social cognitive theory. Women participating in community-based behavioral obesity treatments emphasizing either behavioral skills development (N.=56) or weight-loss information (N.=38) were first assessed on changes in self-regulation, mood, emotional eating, self-efficacy, and body satisfaction; then on their associations with weight change.RESULTS: Group membership did not generally affect score changes. There were significant predictions of change in weight from month 6-month 12 by changes in exercise-related self-regulation, negative mood, body satisfaction, emotional eating, and self-efficacy to control eating. Together, month 6-month 12 changes in physical activity/exercise and dietary behaviors were significantly associated with weight change during the same period; however, only change in physical activity/exercise made a significant unique contribution to the explained variance. Also, change in physical activity/exercise, but not dietary change, significantly mediated psychological change-weight change relationships. Change in weight during month 6-month 12 was significantly associated with weight change extending to month 24.CONCLUSIONS: Implications related to associations of psychological changes and change in weight beyond an initial 6 months - through changes in controlled eating and, especially, physical activity/exercise - were suggested.