Susanne Pedersen1, Falko F Sniehotta2, Kirby Sainsbury2, Elizabeth H Evans2, Marta M Marques3, R James Stubbs4, Berit L Heitmann5, Liisa Lähteenmäki6. 1. MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark. Electronic address: suspe@mgmt.au.dk. 2. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, United Kingdom. 3. University College London, United Kingdom. 4. School of Psychology, University of Leeds, United Kingdom. 5. The Research Unit for Dietary Studies at the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Public Health, Section for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 6. MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Whether self-regulation of food intake in weight loss maintenance (WLM) differs between being a short-term maintainer (having maintained without regaining less than 12 months) and a long-term maintainer (having maintained without regaining at least 12 months) is under-researched. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs applied by short- and long-term maintainers to the complex set of behaviours comprising food intake in WLM, and to obtain a better understanding of their challenges in the various food-intake processes in WLM. METHOD: Individual interviews (14 female/4 male) were conducted with nine Danish short- and nine long-term weight loss maintainers. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) was applied post-hoc to organise data and support analyses, since the approach focuses on both the cognitions (e.g., self-efficacy, the nature of which differs depending on the phase of behaviour change) and self-regulatory strategies (e.g., action planning and coping planning) involved in behaviour change. RESULTS: Self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs varied between the food-related behaviours and between short- and long-term maintainers. Consistent with the progression suggested by HAPA, with repeated use of action and coping planning, long-term maintainers had formed habitual routines, not only allowing them more flexibility, but also providing them stronger self-control in the behaviours related to WLM such as buying and storing food, and eating at social gatherings. The short-term maintainers often displayed a 'weight loss mind-set.' The short-term maintainers focused on the avoidance of certain behaviours, showed less self-regulatory flexibility, and exhibited more detailed action planning, but their interviews also inferred that they had ambitions to build strong WLM-habits, maintenance, and recovery self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: The contribution of this study is a more comprehensive view on food intake as an outcome of a set of complex behaviours, revealing insights into the differences in cognitions and strategies applied to the task of WLM, between short- and long-term maintainers.
RATIONALE: Whether self-regulation of food intake in weight loss maintenance (WLM) differs between being a short-term maintainer (having maintained without regaining less than 12 months) and a long-term maintainer (having maintained without regaining at least 12 months) is under-researched. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs applied by short- and long-term maintainers to the complex set of behaviours comprising food intake in WLM, and to obtain a better understanding of their challenges in the various food-intake processes in WLM. METHOD: Individual interviews (14 female/4 male) were conducted with nine Danish short- and nine long-term weight loss maintainers. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) was applied post-hoc to organise data and support analyses, since the approach focuses on both the cognitions (e.g., self-efficacy, the nature of which differs depending on the phase of behaviour change) and self-regulatory strategies (e.g., action planning and coping planning) involved in behaviour change. RESULTS: Self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs varied between the food-related behaviours and between short- and long-term maintainers. Consistent with the progression suggested by HAPA, with repeated use of action and coping planning, long-term maintainers had formed habitual routines, not only allowing them more flexibility, but also providing them stronger self-control in the behaviours related to WLM such as buying and storing food, and eating at social gatherings. The short-term maintainers often displayed a 'weight loss mind-set.' The short-term maintainers focused on the avoidance of certain behaviours, showed less self-regulatory flexibility, and exhibited more detailed action planning, but their interviews also inferred that they had ambitions to build strong WLM-habits, maintenance, and recovery self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: The contribution of this study is a more comprehensive view on food intake as an outcome of a set of complex behaviours, revealing insights into the differences in cognitions and strategies applied to the task of WLM, between short- and long-term maintainers.
Authors: Emma R Lawlor; Carly A Hughes; Robbie Duschinsky; Gillian D Pountain; Andrew J Hill; Simon J Griffin; Amy L Ahern Journal: Clin Obes Date: 2020-08-07
Authors: Sarah Ellen Scott; Cristiana Duarte; Jorge Encantado; Elizabeth H Evans; Marja Harjumaa; Berit Lilienthal Heitmann; Graham W Horgan; Sofus C Larsen; Marta Moreira Marques; Elina Mattila; Marcela Matos; Marie-Louise Mikkelsen; António L Palmeira; Beth Pearson; Lauren Ramsey; Kirby Sainsbury; Inês Santos; Falko Sniehotta; Carol Stalker; P J Teixeira; R James Stubbs Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-09-30 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Lise Solberg Nes; Julia E W C Van Gemert-Pijnen; Rikke Aune Asbjørnsen; Jobke Wentzel; Mirjam Lien Smedsrød; Jøran Hjelmesæth; Matthew M Clark Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Bronwyn McGill; Blythe J O'Hara; Philayrath Phongsavan; Adrian Bauman; Luke Lawler; Anne C Grunseit Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2020-01-16