The Importance of Motivation for Weight Loss

Researchers have demonstrated how important motivation is to lose that belly fat. They studied two kinds of motivation, independent and controlled, and their association to adherence and weight loss in a 16-week Internet weight-loss program.

To measure the 2 types of motivation, a Questionnaire was used to classify those participants motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic controls such as feeling that performance is the best way to help oneself and making changes for personal reasons (independent motivation) and those participants motivated by only external controls such as perceived pressure from others and feelings of guilt (controlled motivation). Motivation for weight loss was measured at baseline and 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Study participants also recorded their food intake, exercise, and body weight through an on-line self-monitoring system weekly during the study.

More than half of the participants lost 5% of initial body weight at the 16-week follow-up. To study the association between the 2 different types of motivation and weight loss, the sample was divided into those who had and those who had not lost 5% of initial body weight by 16 weeks (37 and 29 participants, respectively). The researchers discovered that the bulk of participants had a considerable increase in independent and controlled motivation between baseline and 4 weeks, though it's not clear what caused the increase in motivation at 4 weeks, the face-to-face session given at the start of the study, early success with weight loss, or something else. Although motivation increased initially for the majority of participants, the group that went on to accomplish a 5% weight loss sustained their independent motivation between 4 and 16 weeks, while the group that was less successful experienced a considerable decrease in independent and controlled motivation over time.

The researchers also found that independent motivation at 4 weeks was an important predictor of adherence to self-monitoring and weight loss. This increase in self-monitoring appeared to be a way in which independent motivation led to improved weight loss. The authors found a positive association between weight loss at 4 weeks and higher levels of independent motivation especially when compared to participants who had higher levels of controlled motivation. .

The study results findings indicate that building motivation could be an efficient way of promoting adherence and weight loss.