Obesity is a major public health concern throughout the world. 10-38% of those who receive the most effective treatment for obesity--bariatric... Show moreObesity is a major public health concern throughout the world. 10-38% of those who receive the most effective treatment for obesity--bariatric surgery--fail to lose substantial weight at all or over time regain weight that was lost post-surgery. The current study tested a model of autonomous motivation for diet and exercise, physical activity, emotional eating, and adherence to post-surgery recommendations (e.g., eating behaviors, fluid intake, dietary supplement management, etc.) in post-bariatric surgery patients. It was hypothesized that autonomous motivation for diet and exercise post-surgery would predict adherence to post-bariatric surgery recommendations. Further, it was also hypothesized that physical activity and emotional eating would in serial partially mediate the relation between autonomous motivation for diet and exercise and adherence to postsurgery recommendations. Results found a positive relation between autonomous motivation for diet and exercise and adherence to post-bariatric surgery recommendations; however, there was no evidence to support mediation via a path from physical activity to emotional eating. Implications for treatment are discussed. M.S. in Psychology, May 2015 Show less
