Using self-determination theory to promote physical activity and weight control: a randomized controlled trial in women

Abstract

Behavior change interventions are effective to the extent that they affect appropriately-measured outcomes, especially in experimental controlled trials. The primary goal of this study was to analyze the impact of a 1-year weight management intervention based on self-determination theory (SDT) on theory-based psychosocial mediators, physical activity/exercise, and body weight and composition. Participants were 239 women (37.6 +/- 7.1 years; 31.5 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)) who received either an intervention focused on promoting autonomous forms of exercise regulation and intrinsic motivation, or a general health education program (controls). At 12 months, the intervention group showed increased weight loss (-7.29%,) and higher levels of physical activity/exercise (+138 +/- 26 min/day of moderate plus vigorous exercise; +2,049 +/- 571 steps/day), compared to controls (P < 0.001). Main intervention targets such as more autonomous self-regulation (for treatment and for exercise) and a more autonomous perceived treatment climate revealed large effect sizes (between 0.80 and .96), favoring intervention (P < 0.001). Results suggest that interventions grounded in SDT can be successfully implemented in the context of weight management, enhancing the internalization of more autonomous forms of behavioral regulation, and facilitating exercise adherence, while producing clinically-significant weight reduction, when compared to a control condition. Findings are fully consistent with previous studies conducted within this theoretical framework in other areas of health behavior change.

Can the Weight Reduction Program Improve Obese Thai Adolescents’ Body Mass Index and Autonomous Motivation?

“…SDT has been applied in studying health behavior interventions (e.g., physical activity and healthy diet), with some positive outcomes 17,18,25 . SDT identifi ed two types of motivation-autonomous motivation and controlled motivation 21,26 through six steps of continual motivation development:…”

Rejection Sensitivity, Self-Efficacy, and Learning Strategy: Mediating and Moderating the Role of Basic Needs Satisfaction

“…These needs are naturally provided for in basic needs, and the fulfillment of these needs produces a positive effect on study, life satisfaction, and mental health (Gunnell, Crocker, Mack, Wilson, & Zumbo, 2014;Ng et al, 2012;Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008;Silva et al, 2010). Thus, in this study we focus on the satisfaction of needs as a possible mediator between rejection sensitivity and learning strategy/self-efficacy.…”

Physical Activity and Cancer

“…Ryan and Deci (2000) argue that threats, deadlines, imposed goals and external pressures can lead to an individual perceiving behaviour as being externally controlled. Silva et al (2008) argue that people need to feel that they have an strong element of choice over their behavior; cancer survivors often feel a loss of control as a result of their diagnosis (National Research Council, 2008) and therefore interventions which promote feelings of autonomy may be the most successful in increasing physical activity levels (Silva et al, 2008(Silva et al, , 2010. To understand this more fully there is a need for more theory-based interventions to be conducted with cancer populations specifically.…”