Paper Title
High trait self-control predicts positive health behaviors and success in weight loss
Keywords
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Control
- Diet
- Eating
- Eating Behavior
- Exercise
- Health Behavior
- Health Psychology
- Obesity
- Overweight
- Weight Loss
- Caloric Intake
- Physical Activity
- Dispositional Self-Control
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Nutritional Choices
- Fitness Motivation
- Behavioral Regulation
Journal
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 16 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 750-759
Published On
March, 2011
Downloads
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Abstract
Surprisingly few studies have explored the intuitive connection between self-control and weight loss. We tracked participants’ diet, exercise and weight loss during a 12-week weight loss program. Participants higher in self-control weighed less and reported exercising more than their lower self-control counterparts at baseline. Independent of baseline differences, individuals high in dispositional self-control ate fewer calories overall and fewer calories from fat, burned marginally more calories through exercise, and lost more weight during the program than did those lower in self-control. These data suggest that trait self-control is, indeed, an important predictor of health behaviors.
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