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Clinical Trial
. 2024 Feb;47(1):160-167.
doi: 10.1007/s10865-023-00431-9. Epub 2023 Jul 13.

Self-control and grit: associations with weight management and healthy habits

Amy A Gorin  1 , Tricia M Leahey  2 , Talea Cornelius  3 , Katelyn Bourgea  4 , Theodore A Powers  5
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Self-control and grit: associations with weight management and healthy habits

Amy A Gorin et al. J Behav Med. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Weight management requires resisting immediate temptations in one's environment (self-control) as well as the ability to persevere towards one's long-term goals despite minor setbacks (grit). This study sought to establish relationships between self-control, grit, and behavioral and health outcomes in the context of a couples-based weight management intervention. Couples (n = 64 dyads) in a behaviorally based intervention completed measures of self-control and grit at study entry and the end of treatment (6 months). Habit automaticity for self-weighing and exercise as well as objective weights were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months (maintenance). Self-control and grit increased during treatment; these increases were significantly associated with greater self-weighing habit automaticity at 6 months. Baseline self-control, changes in self-control, and baseline grit were also associated with 6-month exercise automaticity. Only baseline grit was associated with weight loss maintenance. No partner effects were observed. Findings suggest that self-control and grit are malleable constructs that may play an important role in health behavior habits associated with weight management.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02570009, October, 7, 2015.

Keywords: Couples; Grit; Habits; Self-control; Weight loss.

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References

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