Self-Regulation of Eating and Exercising Behavior in Children With Overweight and Obesity

Abstract: Background: Unhealthy diet and a lack of daily exercise are associated with adverse outcomes in children. Aims: This study investigates the effectiveness of self-regulation interventions for establishing healthy eating and exercising behavior in children with overweight. Method: Thirty-four children (14 girls) with overweight ( M age = 12.03 years, SD = 2.47) were after a 1-week baseline randomly assigned to either a goal or a goal intention + if-then plan intervention condition. Children learned to apply either goal intentions or if-then plans to their everyday eating and exercising behavior, and the effects of these interventions were assessed at a 3-week follow-up. Results: Interventions’ effects did not reach statistical significance. However, critical eating situations in the if-part of an if-then plan mainly occurred in social contexts and around high-calorie foods, whereas critical exercising situations reflected various barriers perceived by children. Limitations: The small sample size, self-reported data, and sparse measurements over a month warrant replication of the study in a randomized controlled trial. Conclusion: Training children who are overweight to use self-regulatory tools might be only one component to better manage daily challenges in their eating and exercise habits.