Motivation and Its Relationship to Adherence to Self-monitoring and Weight Loss in a 16-week Internet Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention
published online 08 February 2010.
Abstract
Objective
To examine changes in motivation and the relationship of motivation to adherence to self-monitoring and weight loss in a 16-week Internet behavioral weight-loss intervention.
Design
Two-group randomized design.
Setting
This study was conducted over the Internet.
Participants
Sixty-six women, ages 22-65, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40, and with a home computer with Internet access, participated.
Intervention
These data are from an Internet behavioral weight-loss program in which all participants received a face-to-face initial session followed by the 16-week Internet program.
Main Outcome Measures
Adherence to self-monitoring and weight loss were the main outcome measures.
Analysis
Linear regression and mediation analysis using the Baron and Kenny method were conducted.
Results
Autonomous motivation increased initially and remained high for those who ultimately achieved a 5% weight loss, but declined over time for participants who did not achieve a 5% weight loss. Autonomous motivation at 4 weeks was a predictor of adherence to self-monitoring and 16-week weight loss. Adherence mediated the relationship between autonomous motivation and weight loss.
Conclusions and Implications
These results suggest that autonomous motivation may be a promising intervention target for promoting program procedure adherence and weight loss.
1Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
2Department of Nutrition and Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
3Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
4Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Address for correspondence: Kelly H. Webber, PhD, MPH, RD, 212A Funkhouser Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0054; Phone: (859) 257-4351; Fax: (859) 257-3707
ABSTRACT