| Popis: |
A majority (68%) of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese (Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, & Curtin, 2010), with an estimated 24-38% of these individuals currently attempting to lose weight (Kruger, Galuska, Serdula, & Jones, 2004). A variety of psychosocial variables impact weight loss outcomes, with self-efficacy emerging as one of the strongest predictors of weight loss (Teixeira, Going, Sardinha, & Lohman, 2005). Likewise, weight bias (i.e., stereotyped and negative beliefs, feelings, and attitudes about obese persons) has been implicated in poor psychological and physical health (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). The present study examined if the relationship between weight bias and weight loss is moderated or mediated by general and eating-related self-efficacy, as well as how levels of self-efficacy and weight bias change through participation in a weight loss intervention. Thirty-seven overweight and obese adults who completed an 18 week weight loss program were included in analyses. Results showed that general self-efficacy moderated the relationship for both explicit weight bias and internalized weight bias and weight loss. Self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between weight bias and weight loss. Increases in general self-efficacy over the course of the intervention were associated with greater weight loss, while changes in weight bias did not affect weight loss. Results provide preliminary evidence for important interactions between self-efficacy and weight bias and their impact on attempts to lose weight. Additionally, self-efficacy may be an important construct to target to facilitate weight loss. |
