Cross-sectional associations between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for physical activity and body composition in adolescents with obesity

Obesity Pillars Pub Date : 2025-07-19 DOI:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100197

Fábio de Freitas , Mariana R. Zago , Maria Ângela Antônio , António Videira-Silva , Maria Ângela Bellomo Brandão

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Abstract

Background

Motivation is essential in turning the intention to engage in physical activity (PA) into consistent action, promoting healthier and more sustainable habits. This study aimed to identify the motivational factors associated with engagement in a PA program and examine the relationship between motivation and body composition in adolescents with obesity.

Methods

Fifty adolescents (60.0 % boys); Median age of 13.6 years (IQR: 2.4); Median BMI z-score of 3.42 (IQR: 1.55) recruited for a PA program were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants completed standardized body composition assessments and an online questionnaire assessing five motivational domains: enjoyment and competence (intrinsic), and appearance, fitness, and social (extrinsic domains).

Results

Fitness emerged as the main reason for engaging in the PA program (6.41 ± 0.81), followed by appearance (5.64 ± 1.43), enjoyment (4.98 ± 1.47), competence (4.55 ± 1.99), and social (3.79 ± 1.85). Enjoyment and competence showed significant negative associations with body weight. (r_p = −0.29, p = 0.045; r_p = −0.32, p = 0.027). Regression analysis identified fitness as a significant predictor for BMI z-score (β = 0.4, p = 0.027).

Conclusion

Extrinsic motives, such as fitness and appearance may drive PA engagement in treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity. However, intrinsic motives, such as enjoyment and competence, may be inversely associated with BMI z-score. Thus, targeting both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation may help to improve adherence and weight outcomes in obesity care. More studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

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肥胖青少年身体活动的内在动机和外在动机与身体成分之间的横断面关联

在将参与体育活动（PA）的意图转化为持续的行动，促进更健康和更可持续的习惯方面，动机是必不可少的。本研究旨在确定与青少年参与体育活动相关的动机因素，并研究肥胖青少年的动机与身体成分之间的关系。方法50例青少年（男生占60.0%）；中位年龄13.6岁（IQR: 2.4）；这项横断面研究纳入了PA项目招募的BMI z分数中位数3.42 （IQR: 1.55）。所有参与者都完成了标准化的身体成分评估和一份在线问卷，评估了五个动机领域：享受和能力（内在），外表，健康和社会（外在）。结果健身是参与体育活动的主要原因（6.41±0.81），其次是外表（5.64±1.43）、享受（4.98±1.47）、能力（4.55±1.99）和社交（3.79±1.85）。快乐和能力与体重呈显著负相关。(rp =−0.29,p = 0.045；Rp =−0.32,p = 0.027)。回归分析发现适应度是BMI z-score的显著预测因子（β = 0.4, p = 0.027）。结论外在动机，如健康和外表，可能会推动青少年肥胖寻求治疗的PA参与。然而，内在动机，如享受和能力，可能与BMI z-score呈负相关。因此，针对外在和内在动机可能有助于改善依从性和肥胖治疗的体重结果。要证实这些发现，还需要更多样本量更大的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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Obesity Pillars

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