Effects of self-regulatory skill usage on weight management behaviours: Mediating effects of induced self-efficacy changes in non-obese through morbidly obese women.

Increasing self-regulatory skills to overcome lifestyle barriers was found to be important for fostering improved weight loss behaviours, especially in the treatment of higher degrees of obesity in women. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Self-efficacy is a malleable factor that predicts behaviour change within multiple theories. Learned self-regulatory skills may effectively deal with lifestyle barriers associated with improvements in weight management behaviours. Increased physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption predicts success with weight loss. What does this study add? Much of self-regulation's effect on physical activity and eating behaviours is through its impact on self-efficacy. Weight management treatments should emphasize self-regulatory skills development over simply health education. Effects of interrelations of self-regulation and self-efficacy are more effective as female weight increases.