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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

Autonomy support, self-regulation, and weight loss.

Amy A Gorin¹, Theodore A Powers², Richard Koestner³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut.

Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

|June 5, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Autonomy support, not directive support, positively impacts weight loss. Training loved ones in autonomy support may enhance weight management interventions.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Science
Health Psychology
Weight Management Research

Background:

Social support is crucial for weight loss success, but the specific types of support are under-examined.
Self-Determination Theory posits that autonomy support fosters self-regulation, potentially aiding weight loss.
Effective weight loss interventions require understanding which support styles yield positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between autonomy support and directive support with weight loss outcomes.
To determine if different types of social support influence long-term weight management.
To evaluate the role of autonomous self-regulation in weight loss success.

Main Methods:

A randomized controlled trial involving 201 adults (78.1% women, mean age 48.9 years) assessed over 18 months.
Autonomy support (AS), directive support, and autonomous self-regulation (ASR) were measured at baseline and 6 months.
Weight loss outcomes were analyzed in relation to the types of social support received.

Main Results:

Autonomy support and autonomous self-regulation at 6 months positively predicted weight loss at 18 months.
Encouragement of healthy eating at 6 months was negatively associated with 18-month weight loss.
Other forms of directive support showed no significant association with weight loss outcomes.

Conclusions:

Autonomy support is linked to better weight loss results, whereas some directive support may impede progress.
Further research is needed to explore training family and friends to provide autonomy support.
Autonomy support may be a more effective strategy than general or directive support in weight loss interventions.