Eliana V Carraça1, Bruno Rodrigues2, Diogo S Teixeira3. 1. Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal; Faculdade de Educação Física e Desporto, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: ecarraca@fmh.ulisboa.pt. 2. Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 3. Faculdade de Educação Física e Desporto, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the motivational transfer between physical activity (PA) and body-related eating cues, through self-determined motivations to exercise (SDM Ex) and regulate eating (SDM Eat). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Participants completed an online inventory on PA and eating behaviors and motivations in 2017-2018. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 300 adults (71% women; 34.4 ± 10.7 years; 23.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2), recruited through Facebook and cooperating Portuguese gyms. VARIABLES MEASURED: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (independent), SDM Ex and SDM Eat (mediators), and body-related eating cues (dependent) variables assessed through validated self-reported measures. ANALYSIS: Structural equation modeling and serial mediation procedures were used to test the hypothetical model. RESULTS: Physical activity was positively associated with SDM Ex, which was, in turn, associated with SDM Eat, which in turn positively predicted reliance on hunger/satiety cues and (more strongly) body-food choice congruence. The path through exercise and eating motivations was the leading mediating path in the PA and body-food choice congruence association. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study lends support to the motivational transfer hypothesis between SDM Ex and SDM Eat in normal-weight adults, suggesting that more physically active individuals present higher SDM Ex and SDM Eat, and therefore, greater attentiveness to body-related eating cues and necessities. Encouraging PA might also improve individuals' eating self-regulation, especially if self-determined motivations are targeted in future interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the motivational transfer between physical activity (PA) and body-related eating cues, through self-determined motivations to exercise (SDM Ex) and regulate eating (SDM Eat). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING:Participants completed an online inventory on PA and eating behaviors and motivations in 2017-2018. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 300 adults (71% women; 34.4 ± 10.7 years; 23.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2), recruited through Facebook and cooperating Portuguese gyms. VARIABLES MEASURED: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (independent), SDM Ex and SDM Eat (mediators), and body-related eating cues (dependent) variables assessed through validated self-reported measures. ANALYSIS: Structural equation modeling and serial mediation procedures were used to test the hypothetical model. RESULTS: Physical activity was positively associated with SDM Ex, which was, in turn, associated with SDM Eat, which in turn positively predicted reliance on hunger/satiety cues and (more strongly) body-food choice congruence. The path through exercise and eating motivations was the leading mediating path in the PA and body-food choice congruence association. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study lends support to the motivational transfer hypothesis between SDM Ex and SDM Eat in normal-weight adults, suggesting that more physically active individuals present higher SDM Ex and SDM Eat, and therefore, greater attentiveness to body-related eating cues and necessities. Encouraging PA might also improve individuals' eating self-regulation, especially if self-determined motivations are targeted in future interventions.