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Abstract Background Previous research has established the importance of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for weight control. One area of unexplored investigation is the relationship between individuals' perceptions of the importance of MVPA for weight control and MVPA engagement. This study examined the associations between the perceived importance of MVPA and MVPA engagement, weight loss, barriers to PA, and exercise enjoyment in adults enrolled in a long‐term behavioral weight loss (BWL) intervention. Methods Adults (N = 301) with overweight/obesity (BMI = 27–45 kg/m2) completed an 18‐month BWL intervention, followed by a no‐intervention 18‐month follow‐up. At baseline, 6 months, 18 months (i.e., post‐treatment), and 36 months (i.e., follow‐up), participants ranked the importance of six strategies for weight control: keeping a food record, MVPA, light PA, self‐weighing, small portions, and low‐calorie diet. Observed MVPA (measured by accelerometer), percent weight loss, perceived barriers to PA, and exercise enjoyment were also measured at each assessment. Results Results showed that most participants perceived MVPA as a primary weight control strategy (first, second, or third most important) throughout the intervention, regardless of the weight control goal (weight loss vs. maintenance). Individuals who ranked MVPA as a primary strategy for weight control at concurrent time points, compared to those who did not, engaged in significantly more MVPA at post‐treatment, had greater weight loss at follow‐up, endorsed fewer barriers to PA at post‐treatment and follow‐up, and reported greater exercise enjoyment at baseline and post‐treatment. Conclusion Perceived importance of MVPA was related to subjective experiences of MVPA, MVPA adherence, and weight loss in a long‐term BWL intervention.

Abstract Introduction Many adults with overweight or obesity experience subclinical symptoms of depression, but little is known about how such symptoms are associated with physical activity (PA) or the experience of PA during behavioral weight loss (BWL) treatment. Methods In the current study, adults recruited from the community (N = 320) received 18 months of group‐based BWL treatment and wore accelerometers at months 0, 6, and 18 to objectively measure PA. Participants with a mood disorder that was not well controlled were not eligible for the study and were referred for individual treatment. Depressive symptoms, PA barriers, discomfort avoidance, and self‐control were self‐reported with validated measures. Results At baseline, the majority of participants indicated some depressive symptoms, mostly at subclinical levels. Results of multilevel models suggest that depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with concurrent measures of PA engagement (minutes/week) or sedentary behavior (minutes/week) at a given time point (i.e., baseline, 6 months, or 18 months). Results of cross‐level interactions suggest that baseline depressive symptoms did not moderate the change in PA or sedentary behavior across time. Concurrent depressive symptoms and PA barriers were significantly and positively associated at a given time point (i.e., baseline, 6 months, or 18 months); however, baseline depressive symptoms did not moderate the improvement in perceived PA barriers across time. At baseline, higher discomfort avoidance and lower self‐control each independently and partially mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and PA barriers. Conclusion Results suggest that, among BWL samples in which most participants do not have clinically significant depressive symptoms, the likelihood of adopting and sustaining PA does not depend on the extent of depressive symptoms, but those with elevated symptoms may benefit from approaches that address their perception that engaging in PA is especially challenging.