Controlled motivation and the persistence of weight-loss dieting

The principal aim of the present paper was to determine the extent to which controlled motivation to diet can account for persistence with weight-loss dieting. The relationship between the duration of dieting and the perceive d importance of thinness for self-esteem was therefore investigated. Eight hundred and seventy adolescent females completed a questionnaire on two occ asions (separated by a period of 5 months) assessing the nature of their mo tivation to diet, the perceived pressure to diet and support for autonomous behaviour From the social context, their tendency to act in a controlled m anner, and their subjective well-being, as well as aspects of their dieting behaviour. The results of path analyses and between-group comparisons indi cated that controlled motivation was important in accounting for the persis tence of weight-loss dieting across the 5-month period. Differences in the extent to which the motivation to diet was controlled also had implications for the nature and the intensity of the dieting behaviour as well as subje ctive well-being. The findings from this study inform future research into the persistence of weight-loss dieting. They also suggest specific strategi es for the prevention of disordered eating. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.