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A Conceptual Neurocognitive Affect-Related Model for the Promotion of Exercise Among Obese Adults

  • Psychological Issues (M Hetherington and V Drapeau, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Obesity Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Obesity remains a prominent societal threat and burden despite well-promoted prevention and treatment strategies, such as regular engagement in physical activity. Obese individuals, in particular, may be prone to inactivity as a result of a variety of displeasure-related parameters resulting from exercise, such as dyspnea, for instance.

Recent Findings

This brief conceptual review discusses the integral roles of exercise-induced affective responses within a novel conceptual-based neurocognitive affect-related model. Specifically, this model includes three pathways: (1) pathway A proposes that neurocognition, and especially, executive function-based cognition, may play an influential role in fostering exercise-induced affective responses, (2) pathway B connects an individual’s affective response from exercise to their future exercise behavior, and (3) pathway C suggests a cyclical, bi-directional relationship with executive function indirectly influencing future exercise behavior via affective responses to exercise, and exercise itself playing an important role in executive functioning.

Summary

Future studies should empirically test this model, which may have utility for promoting exercise among the obese population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Meghan K. Edwards & Ovuokerie Addoh

  2. Developmental Neurobiology and Behavioral Laboratory, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, 91702, USA

    Skyla M. Herod

  3. Behavioral Medicine Lab, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada

    Ryan E. Rhodes

  4. Jackson Heart Study Vanguard Center of Oxford, Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, 229 Turner Center, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Paul D. Loprinzi

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  1. Meghan K. Edwards
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  2. Ovuokerie Addoh
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Correspondence to Paul D. Loprinzi.

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Meghan K. Edwards, Ovuokerie Addoh, Skyla M. Herod, Ryan E. Rhodes, and Paul D. Loprinzi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Edwards, M.K., Addoh, O., Herod, S.M. et al. A Conceptual Neurocognitive Affect-Related Model for the Promotion of Exercise Among Obese Adults. Curr Obes Rep 6, 86–92 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-017-0244-0

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