Relationships Between Learned Self-Regulatory Skills and Changes in Weight-Loss Behaviors: Mediation by Barriers Self-Efficacy

2020 ◽  
pp. 263207702097514
Author(s):  
James J. Annesi

This study aimed to assess changes in learned self-regulatory skills and barriers self-efficacy associated with theory-based behavioral weight-loss treatments with different curricular emphases, and to evaluate mechanisms of short- and long-term changes in exercise and eating behaviors via self-regulatory skills usage to inform theory and improve lagging intervention effects. Women with obesity volunteered and were randomly allocated into 1-year community-based behavioral weight-loss treatments with either a high ( n = 37) or moderate ( n = 41) focus on building self-regulatory skills to overcome lifestyle barriers. They were periodically assessed on measures of exercise- and eating-related self-regulatory skill usage, exercise- and eating-related barriers self-efficacy, exercise outputs, fruit/vegetable intake, and body composition. Reductions in weight and waist circumference, increases in exercise- and eating-related self-regulation and barriers self-efficacy, and increases in exercise and fruit/vegetable intake were each significant overall, and significantly greater in the group with a high self-regulatory skills-building focus. Change in barriers self-efficacy significantly mediated relationships between self-regulation change and changes in exercise outputs and fruit/vegetable intake from both baseline–Month 6 and baseline–Month 12. Change in barriers self-efficacy also significantly mediated relationships between change in self-regulation for eating from baseline–Month 3 and long-term changes in self-regulation for eating. Findings supported tenets of social cognitive, self-efficacy, and self-regulation theories: and indicated the importance of emphasizing, and facilitating a high amount of instruction and rehearsal time for self-regulatory skills development within behavioral weight-loss treatments. The ability to nurture self-efficacy through overcoming lifestyle barriers was also indicated.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Annesi

Background:Behavioral interventions for weight-loss have been largely unsuccessful. Exercise is the strongest predictor of maintained weight loss and much of its effects may be from associated changes in psychosocial factors.Methods:Middle-aged, formerly sedentary adults with severe obesity were randomly selected to 6-month treatments of cognitive-behavioral exercise support paired with either standard nutrition education (n = 99) or nutrition change supported by cognitive-behavioral means with an emphasis on self-regulation (n = 101).Results:Overall improvements in self-efficacy and self-regulation for both exercise and managed eating, and mood, were found, with significantly greater improvements associated with the cognitive-behavioral nutrition condition in self-regulation for eating and mood. Change scores trended toward being stronger predictors of increased exercise and fruit and vegetable intake than scores at treatment end. Multiple regression analyses indicated that significant portions of the variance in both increased volume of exercise (R2 = 0.45) and fruit and vegetable intake (R2 = 0.21) were explained by changes in self-regulatory skill usage, self-efficacy, and mood.Conclusions:Cognitive-behavioral methods for improved eating paired with behavioral support of exercise may improve weight loss through effects on the psychosocial factors of self-regulation, self-efficacy, and overall mood more than when standard nutrition education is incorporated.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3687
Author(s):  
Eliza L. Gordon ◽  
Lisa J. Merlo ◽  
Patricia E. Durning ◽  
Michael G. Perri

Interest in food addiction (FA) has increased, but little is known about its clinical implications or potential treatments. Using secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the associations between changes in FA, body weight, and “problem food” consumption during a 22-month behavioral weight-loss program consisting of an initial four-month in-person intervention, 12-month extended-care, and six-month follow-up (n = 182). Food addiction was measured using the Yale Food Addiction Scale. “Problem foods” were identified from the literature and self-reporting. Multilevel modeling was used as the primary method of analysis. We hypothesized that reductions in problem food consumption during the initial treatment phase would be associated with long-term (22-month) FA reductions. As expected, we found that reductions in problem foods were associated with greater initial reductions in FA symptoms; however, they were also associated with a sharper rebound in symptoms over time (p = 0.016), resulting in no significant difference at Month 22 (p = 0.856). Next, we hypothesized that long-term changes in FA would be associated with long-term changes in body weight. Although both FA and weight decreased over time (ps < 0.05), month-to-month changes in FA were not associated with month-to-month changes in weight (p = 0.706). Instead, higher overall FA (i.e., mean scores over the course of the study) were associated with less weight loss (p = 0.008) over time. Finally, we hypothesized that initial reductions in problem food consumption would be associated with long-term reductions in weight, but this relationship was not significant (ps > 0.05). Given the complexity of the findings, more research is needed to identify interventions for long-term changes in FA and to elucidate the associations between problem foods, FA, and weight.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
James J. Annesi

Background Results of behavioral weight-loss treatments vary widely, with mostly unsuccessful outcomes beyond the short term. Women with obesity participating in a new cognitive-behavioral weight-loss treatment were assessed on their responses to psychological targets. Methods Groups of responders ( n = 43) and nonresponders ( n = 48) were established post hoc. Results Age, race/ethnicity, education, income, body composition, physical activity, and eating behaviors at baseline were not discriminated between responders and nonresponders. Over both 6 and 24 months, responders improved significantly more in physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption but not sweets intake. Weight loss over 6 and 24 months was significantly greater for the responder group at 8.1% and 8.6% versus nonresponders at 4.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Self-regulation change significantly predicted all behavioral changes, with mood change improving the predictive strength for only sweets intake. Discussion Although further research is required to determine the etiology of, and to maximize, positive responses, findings suggested prospects for treatment improvements.


Obesity Facts ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
R. James Stubbs ◽  
Cristiana Duarte ◽  
António L. Palmeira ◽  
Falko F. Sniehotta ◽  
Graham Horgan ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Effective interventions and commercial programmes for weight loss (WL) are widely available, but most people regain weight. Few effective WL maintenance (WLM) solutions exist. The most promising evidence-based behaviour change techniques for WLM are self-monitoring, goal setting, action planning and control, building self-efficacy, and techniques that promote autonomous motivation (e.g., provide choice). Stress management and emotion regulation techniques show potential for prevention of relapse and weight regain. Digital technologies (including networked-wireless tracking technologies, online tools and smartphone apps, multimedia resources, and internet-based support) offer attractive tools for teaching and supporting long-term behaviour change techniques. However, many digital offerings for weight management tend not to include evidence-based content and the evidence base is still limited. <b><i>The Project:</i></b> First, the project examined why, when, and how many European citizens make WL and WLM attempts and how successful they are. Second, the project employed the most up-to-date behavioural science research to develop a digital toolkit for WLM based on 2 key conditions, i.e., self-management (self-regulation and motivation) of behaviour and self-management of emotional responses for WLM. Then, the NoHoW trial tested the efficacy of this digital toolkit in adults who achieved clinically significant (≥5%) WL in the previous 12 months (initial BMI ≥25). The primary outcome was change in weight (kg) at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes included biological, psychological, and behavioural moderators and mediators of long-term energy balance (EB) behaviours, and user experience, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. <b><i>Impact:</i></b> The project will directly feed results from studies on European consumer behaviour, design and evaluation of digital toolkits self-management of EB behaviours into development of new products and services for WLM and digital health. The project has developed a framework and digital architecture for interventions in the context of EB tracking and will generate results that will help inform the next generation of personalised interventions for effective self-management of weight and health.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lora E Burke ◽  
Linda J Ewing ◽  
Saul Shiffman ◽  
Dan Siewiorek ◽  
Asim Smailagic ◽  
...  

Introduction: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) assesses individuals' experiences, behaviors, and moods as they occur in real time and in their own environment, making it useful to understand the processes of behavior change. We report the use of EMA to study the triggers of lapses after intentional weight loss in a 12-mo. study that includes a standard behavioral weight loss intervention. Purpose: We examined daily self-reports of self-efficacy and how they were related to unplanned eating episodes (‘lapses’) and weight change over the first 6 mos. of the study. Hypothesis: Higher self-efficacy is related to fewer “lapses” and better weight loss over time. Methods: Participants were provided a smartphone app programmed to administer EMA assessments up to 5 randomly-selected times/day. Each assessment included the self-efficacy query, How confident are you that if you have an urge to go off your healthy lifestyle plan, you can resist the urge? measured on a scale of 1-10. Participants were weighed at weekly, and after 3 months bi-weekly, group sessions. To account for replicate observations among subjects, generalized estimating equations were used to fit logistic regression models predicting lapses as a function of self-efficacy, adjusting for location (e.g., home, work, restaurant) and social setting (e.g., with others, alone). Results: The sample (N = 151) was 90.7% female and 79.5% White, and on average, 51.18 (10.22) years of age with a mean BMI of 34.0 (4.6) kg/m2. Of the 59,913 random assessments conducted over 6 mos., eating episodes were recorded in 7,991 (13.34%) of those assessments, of which 881 (11.03%) were not planned. Most of the 7,991 planned and unplanned eating episodes were captured when individuals were with others who were eating (49%), or when completely alone (24%). After adjusting for location and social setting, self-efficacy remained a significant predictor of a lapse (p < 0.001). The odds of a lapse decreased by 70% (95% CI, 64%, 76%) for every unit increase in self efficacy. After controlling for social setting, participants were estimated to lose 0.35 more lbs/mo. (SE = 0.14; p = 0.02) for each unit increase in self efficacy. Self-efficacy maintained a stable level between 7.3 and 7.4 for the first 4 mos., before decreasing at a rate of 0.11 points/month (SE = 0.04; p = 0.002) in the last 2 mos. This temporal trend in self-efficacy was paralleled by a similar trend in participants’ weights; they lost an average of 3.26 lbs/mo. (SE = 0.18) in the first 4 mos. compared to only 0.59 lbs/mo. (SE = 0.29) in the last 2 mos. Conclusions: The data suggest that as self-efficacy decreased to near 7.0, individuals were at greater risk to experience a lapse in their diet, an integral part of the healthy lifestyle plan. Targeting enhanced and sustained levels of self-efficacy above 7 may enable a person to resist lapses and prevent weight regain.


Author(s):  
Marlene Adams

Obesity is a serious, prevalent, and refractory disorder that increases with age particularly in women who enroll in formal weight loss treatments. This study examined the processes used by obese postmenopausal women as they participated in a formal weight loss program. Using grounded theory, interviews were conducted with 14 women engaged in a formal weight loss study examining success with specific, targeted weight loss treatments based on one’s weight control self-efficacy typology. “Taking Charge of One’s Life” emerged as a model for weight management success, comprised of three phases: engaging, internalizing, and keeping one’s commitment. This study supports the unique, complex, and individualized nature of making a decision to lose weight and then maintaining one’s commitment to weight loss.


Author(s):  
Ingunn Hagen ◽  
Stine Kofoed ◽  
Usha Nayar

In this chapter, we will address how Yoga may contribute to psychological wellbeing. The chapter will be based on review of relevant literature in the backdrop of the theoretical framework of Self-Efficacy developed by Albert Bandura in his comprehensive ‘social cognitive theory of human motivation and learning'. Illustrations are included from our study: “Yoga to promote young people's mental health and well-being?” First, we will address some current social tendencies that contribute to everyday stress and challenges to people's general wellbeing. Second, we aim to have some conceptual clarification related to the concepts in our title “Yoga for psychological wellbeing”. Third, we will address how Yoga may function as a tool for self-regulation and its relationship with self-efficacy. Fourth, we will describe how Yoga is perceived as a mean to cope with stress. We will discuss how different people use Yoga to cope with stress, and how this partly relates to the role of Yoga as a tool for self-regulation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Stelmach-Mardas ◽  
Marcin Mardas ◽  
Jarosław Walkowiak ◽  
Heiner Boeing

After having participated in a weight loss trial, most participants do not stabilise the obtained weight loss but return to their initial weight. The aim of this review is to describe the main determinants of continued low weight status after weight loss, and the effectiveness of physical activity (PA), energy restriction and macronutrient composition of the diet for low long-term weight regain. Studies with intervention periods of at least 3 months duration of weight reduction measures and a follow-up at least 2 years after the intervention period were considered as eligible for the review. Owing to limited data, the studies describing the role of PA in weight management were eligible with a follow-up of 1 year only. It appears that a diet with self-regulation of dietary intake seems to be given a prominent role in the strategy of successful long-term weight loss among the obese. This measure could be combined with behaviour therapy and PA and tailored to the individual situation. However, considering available evidence it is difficult to conclude regarding unambiguous measures and to recommend a specific dietary intervention. Nevertheless, interventions should be effective in promoting intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy. The harmonisation and standardisation of data collection in the follow-up period of long-term weight loss studies is a major challenge.


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