Psychological need frustration and exercise adherence among obese adolescents: A chain mediation model of body image dissatisfaction and exercise motivation

The findings highlight the important roles of psychological need frustration, body image dissatisfaction, and exercise motivation in understanding exercise adherence among obese adolescents. The results clarify how body image dissatisfaction and exercise motivation jointly mediate this relationship, offering empirical support for the application of Self-Determination Theory in high-risk adolescent populations. This study also provides theoretical and practical implications for school-based physical education, family support, and individual-level interventions.