Although the obesity epidemic has impacted men and women equally, only 25% of men attempt to lose weight, compared to 40% of women. Since motivation likely plays a role in weight loss attempts and degree of success, this research explores gender and weight loss motivators, using self-determination theory, with a nationally representative cross sectional data set of 2,997 participants. Using a principal component analysis, 28 weight-loss motivation items were classified into two components—Quality of Life (QOL) motivators and Interpersonal and Cultural (IC) Motivators. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with the predictors of Gender, Age, BMI, and Relative Size in four models for QOL and IC. Older participants, compared to the younger ones, were weaker in their endorsement of QOL motivators for weight loss. Yet women had less of a decrease in QOL motivators compared to men. Similarly, there was less motivation for weight loss for IC for the older the participants compared to the younger ones. However, women found IC motivators to be more motivating for weight loss than men. By understanding who endorses which type of motivators, clinicians can assess for those motivators that may be associated with poor psychological and weight loss outcomes
