Research
Adherence
Autonomous motivation for weight loss (internalized regulation) predicts higher program attendance, greater weight loss during a very-low-calorie diet, and greater maintenance of that weight loss at 23-month follow-up.
To maintain weight loss, focus on why you want to lose weight. If your reasons are internal (e.g., 'I value my health'), you are more likely to stick with the program and keep the weight off. If your reasons are external (e.g., 'My spouse insists'), you are less likely to succeed long-term.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Analyses confirmed the predictions that (a) participants whose motivation for weight loss was more autonomous would attend the program more regularly, lose more weight during the program, and evidence greater maintained weight loss at follow-up
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial design with a 23-month follow-up, though the sample size for the primary analysis was reduced to 94 due to attrition.
Source
Motivational predictors of weight loss and weight-loss maintenance.
Geoffrey C. Williams et al. · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 1996
cohort · n=128Cited 1,156×
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