Behavioural Tailored Lifestyle Interventions for Weight Reduction Among Females in Khamis Mushayt

Abstract

Background:

Obesity is a chronic progressive illness that has several health consequences. However, obesity can be managed through alteration of lifestyle. All comprehensive multidimensional therapeutic plans for obesity should involve lifestyle modification. The effective lifestyle modifications involve behavioral change strategies to maintain long-term adherence to the interventions and achieve weight loss.

Aim:

To evaluate the effectiveness of behaviorally tailored lifestyle interventions in achieving weight reduction among females in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

This was a quasi-experiment that was conducted in health clubs across Khamis Mushayt on adult females aged 18-50 years with obesity or overweight. A questionnaire was used to collect the data of the participants, which included demographics, weight loss attempts, perception regarding causes for not losing weight, eating and physical activity patterns, and food intake.

Results:

A total of 169 females were enrolled; 91.7% reported a previous attempt to lose weight, and the most reported strategy was diet, 50.3%. The amount of food intake was reported to be usual among 41.4%, whereas 40.8% reported reduced food intake. High intensity activity was reported by 58%, whereas 35.8% reported moderate intensity activity. Attempt to lose weight displayed no correlation with the BMI of the subjects (P=0.076).

Conclusion:

There was a great attempt among our participants to lose weight, with diet and exercise being the most adopted strategies for weight loss. The most common eating pattern among the participants was retrained eating. There was no definite lifestyle intervention adopted by the participants.