The objective of this study is to verify the relevance of motivational and emotional factors, as well as dietician presence in relation to the optimization of the dietary pattern-change process. This study was carried out with an on-line survey, including 341 respondents, almost half of whom were consulted by a dietician. Two measures were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the dietary pattern-change among participants. The first of these measures refers to subjective evaluations of diet improvement, while the second refers to weight loss. The results show that autonomous motivation and dietician presence are associated with positive anticipatory emotions, and diet improvements. Extrinsic regulation, dietician presence, and lack of negative emotional experiences are related to greater weight loss.
BaumgartnerHPietersRBagozziRP (2008) Future-oriented emotions: Conceptualization and behavioral effects. European Journal of Social Psychology38: 685–696.
3.
BiberDDEllisR (2019) The effect of self-compassion on the self-regulation of health behaviors: A systematic review. Journal of Health Psychology24(14): 2060–2071.
4.
BlackmanCBKvaskaCA (2011) Nutrition Psychology. Improving Dietary Adherence. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
5.
BuchananKSheffieldJ (2017) Why do diets fail? An exploration of dieters’ experiences using thematic analysis. Journal of Health Psychology22(7): 906–915.
6.
BuchananKSheffieldJTanWH (2019) Predictors of diet failure: A multifactorial cognitive and behavioural model. Journal of Health Psychology24(7): 857–869.
7.
CarverCS (2004) Self-regulation of affect and action. In: BaumeisterRFVohsKD (eds) Handbook of Self-Regulation. Research, Theory and Applications. New York, NY; London: Guilford Press, pp.13–39.
8.
CarverCSScheierMF (1998) On the Self-Regulation of Behaviour. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
9.
ChapmanKOgdenJ (2009) How do people change their diet? An exploration into mechanisms of dietary change. Journal of Health Psychology14(8): 1229–1242.
10.
CohenJBPhamMTAndradeEB (2008) The nature and role of affect in consumer behaviour. In: HaugtvedtCPHerrPMKardesFR (eds) Handboook of Consumer Psychology. New York, NY; London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp.297–348.
11.
CosmeDBerkmanET (2020) Autonomy can support affect regulation during illness and in health. Journal of Health Psychology25(1): 31–37.
12.
DarlingtonRHayesAF (2017) Regression Analysis and Linear Models: Concepts, Application, and Implementation. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
13.
DeciELRyanRM (2000) The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry11: 227–268.
14.
DienerEWirtzDTovW, et al. (2010) New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research97: 143–156.
HoltMELeeJWMortonKR, et al. (2014) Mediterranean diet and emotion regulation. Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism7(3): 163–172.
17.
JohnsonSSPaivaALCumminsCO, et al. (2008) Transtheoretical model-based multiple behavior intervention for weight management: Effectiveness on a population basis. Preventive Medicine46(3): 238–246.
18.
KalantariNDoaeiSGordaliM, et al. (2016) The association between dairy intake, simple sugars and body mass index with expression and extent of anger in female students. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry11(1): 43–50.
19.
KiviniemiMTBrown-KramerCR (2015) Planning versus action: Different decision-making processes predict plans to change one’s diet versus actual dietary behavior. Journal of Health Psychology20(5): 556–568.
20.
LazarusRS (1991) Emotion and Adaptation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
21.
LevesqueCSWilliamsGCElliotD, et al. (2007) Validating the theoretical structure of the treatment self-regulation questionnaire (TSRQ) across three different health behaviors. Health Education Research22(5): 691–702.
22.
MarksDF (2015a) Special issue: Food, diets and dieting. Journal of Health Psychology20: 469–472.
23.
MarksDF (2015b) Homeostatic theory of obesity. Health Psychology Open2(1): 2055102915590692.
24.
MillsteinRA (2014) Measuring outcomes in adult weight loss studies that include diet and physical activity: A systematic review. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism2014: 421423.
25.
NichollsWDevonportTJBlakeM (2016) The association between emotions and eating behaviour in an obese population with binge eating disorder. Obesity Reviews17(1): 30–42.
26.
NtoumanisNEdmundsJDudaJL (2009) Understanding the coping process from a self-determination theory perspective. British Journal of Health Psychology14: 249–260.
27.
OwenLCorfeB (2017) The role of diet and nutrition on mental health and wellbeing. Proceedings of The Nutrition Society76(4): 425–426.
28.
O’BrienKVennBJPerryT, et al. (2007) Reasons for wanting to lose weight: Different strokes for different folks. Eating Behaviors8: 132–135.
29.
PelletierLGDionSCSlovinec-D’AngeloM, et al. (2004) Why do you regulate what you eat? Relationships between forms of regulation, eating behaviors, sustained dietary behavior change, and psychological adjustment. Motivation and Emotion28: 245–277.
30.
Poraj-WederMWąsowiczGPasternakA (2021) Why it is so hard to lose weight? An exploration of patients’ and dietitians’ perspectives by means of thematic analysis. Health Psychology Open8: 20551029211024406–20551029211024412.
31.
ReeveJRyanRDeciEL, et al. (2008) Understanding and promoting autonomous self-regulation: A self-determination theory perspective. In: SchunkDHZimmermanBJ (eds) Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning: Theory, Research, and Applications. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, pp.223–244.
32.
RyanRMDeciEL (2000) Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist55: 68–78.
33.
RyanRMDeciEL (2017) Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. New York, NY: Guilford Publications.
34.
RyanRMLa GuardiaJGSolky-ButzelJ, et al. (2005) On the interpersonal regulation of emotions: Emotional reliance across gender, relationships, and cultures. Personal Relationships12: 145–163.
35.
RyanRMLynchMFVansteenkisteM, et al. (2011) Motivation and autonomy in counseling, psychotherapy, and behavior change: A look at theory and practice 1ψ7. The Counseling Psychologist39: 193–260.
36.
ScheierMFCarverCS (2003) Goals and confidence as self-regulatory elements underlying health and illness behaviour. In: CameronLDLeventhalH (eds) The Self- Regulation of Health and Illness Behaviour. London: Routledge, pp.17–41.
37.
SilvaMNMarklandDCarraçaEV, et al. (2011) Exercise autonomous motivation predicts 3-yr weight loss in women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise43(4): 728–737.
38.
SpahnJMReevesRSKeimKS, et al. (2010) State of the evidence regarding behavior change theories and strategies in nutrition counseling to facilitate health and food behavior change. Journal of the American Dietetic Association110(6): 879–891.
39.
SunYYouWAlmeidaF, et al. (2017) The effectiveness and cost of lifestyle interventions including nutrition education for diabetes prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics117: 404–421.e36.
40.
TeixeiraPJGoingSBSardinhaLB, et al. (2005) A review of psychosocial pre-treatment predictors of weight control. Obesity Reviews6: 43–65.
41.
TeixeiraPJSilvaMNMataJ, et al. (2012) Motivation, self-determination, and long-term weight control. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity9: 22.
42.
VansteenkisteMDeciEL (2003) Competitively contingent rewards and intrinsic motivation: Can losers remain motivated?Motivation and Emotion27(4): 273–299.
43.
VansteenkisteMSheldonKM (2006) There’s nothing more practical than a good theory: Integrating motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. British Journal of Clinical Psychology45: 63–82.
44.
van StrienTCebollaAEtchemendyE, et al. (2013) Emotional eating and food intake after sadness and joy. Appetite66: 20–25.
45.
van StrienTvan de LaarFAvan LeeuweJF, et al. (2007) The dieting dilemma in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: Does dietary restraint predict weight gain 4 years after diagnosis?Health Psychology26: 105–112.
46.
WebberKHGabrieleJMTateDF, et al. (2010) The effect of a motivational intervention on weight loss is moderated by level of baseline controlled motivation. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity7(1): 4.
47.
WilliamsDMEvansDR (2014) Current emotion research in health behavior science. Emotion Review6(3): 277–287.
48.
WilliamsLTBarnesKBallL, et al. (2019) How effective are dietitians in weight management? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Healthcare7(1): 20.
