Identified-regulation motivational style, health factors, and rational decision-making drive pet owners' participation in pet weight loss programs.

Objective: To assess and describe pet owners' motivation and decision-making styles related to pet weight loss programs.

Methods: The study population consisted of dog and cat owners whose pets were participants in the University of Tennessee's Veterinary Obesity Center (UTVOC) or Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center's Healthy Weight Clinic (KSUHWC), presenting for either initial or recheck appointments. In this prospective study, participants completed an online survey utilizing modified versions of the Situation Motivational Scale (SIMS) and Weight Loss Motivation Questionnaire (WLMQ) to assess motivation and the General Decision-Making Style (GDMS) to assess decision-making styles. The questionnaire was available between January 23, 2024, and June 16, 2024.

Results: There were 53 survey respondents (UTVOC, n = 31; KSUHWC, 22). According to the SIMS results, identified regulation was the most common motivational style, and, according to the GDMS results, rational was the most common decision-making style in our study. The WLMQ revealed that health factors were the most important motivational factors for pet owners, compared to appearance-related factors.

Conclusions: In this study, the most common types of motivation and decision-making styles among pet owners were identified regulation and rational decision-making. The main reason pet owners were motivated to help their pets lose weight was due to concerns about their pet's health.

Clinical relevance: Clinicians can use the study results to better understand the motivational and decision-making styles of pet owners whose pets are enrolled in weight loss programs. Future directions could assess whether aligning veterinary interactions with pet owners' preferred styles improves weight loss program outcomes.