Weight Loss Is Unaffected by Government-Recommended Versus Below-Recommended Exercise Amounts Completed Within a Self-RegulationeFocused Obesity Treatment in Women

Maintaining exercise in adults with obesity is challenging. Recommendations typically range from >= 150 minutes/week (>= 5 moderate-intensity 30-minute sessions/week) to nearly double that amount. However, the value of exercise for weight loss might largely come from its psychological-improvement attributes rather than energy-expenditure attributes. Women participants (N = 73) of a community-based obesity program supporting self-regulation and exercise were evaluated for 6 months. Completing 3 to 4 sessions/week was associated with as much lost weight as completion of 5 to 7 sessions/week (mean overall =-5.80 kg; -6.1%). Increased exercise-related self-regulation predicted improved eating-related self-regulation and weight loss. Suggestions are provided enabling NPs to better support weight loss in patients with obesity. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.