Abstract:
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships
between physical activity and healthy eating behaviour with the participant's
motives and goals for each health behaviour.
Methods: Participants (N 121; 93.2% female) enrolled in commercial weightloss
programs at the time of data collection, completed self-reported instruments
using a web-based interface that were in accordance with Deci and Ryan's (2002)
Self-Determination Theory (SDT).
Results: Multiple linear regression models revealed that motivation and goals
collectively accounted for between 0.21 to 0.29 percent and 0.03 to 0.16 percent
of the variance in physical and healthy eating behaviours in this sample. In
general, goals regarding either behaviour did not appear to have strong predictive
relationships with each health behaviour beyond the contributions of motives.
Discussion: Overall, findings from this study suggest that motives seem to
mattermore than goals for both physical activity and healthy eating behaviour in
clientele of commercial weight-loss programs. Therefore commercial weight-loss
program implementers may want to consider placing more attention on motives
I
than goals for their clientele when designing weight-loss and weight-maintenance
initiatives.
