Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka
Background: Obesity and its’ comorbidities in young adults are emerging health concerns. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, type -2 diabetes, carcinomas, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gynecological complications. Young adulthood is con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Asian Journal of Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/37670 |
| _version_ | 1818956192549961728 |
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| author | Gayani Priyangika Gamage Priyadarshika Hettiarachchi Ranil Jayawardena Sudharshani Wasalathanthri |
| author_facet | Gayani Priyangika Gamage Priyadarshika Hettiarachchi Ranil Jayawardena Sudharshani Wasalathanthri |
| author_sort | Gayani Priyangika Gamage |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Obesity and its’ comorbidities in young adults are emerging health concerns. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, type -2 diabetes, carcinomas, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gynecological complications. Young adulthood is considered the best time period to introduce weight control interventions as the established lifestyle behaviors may persist throughout life.
Aims and Objectives: The present study assessed self-perception of body weight, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction and their associated factors in a sample of treatment seeking obese young adults.
Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and sixty-one obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2) young (18-35 years) adults attending an out-patient nutrition clinic of a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka were studied. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information on body weight perception and, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured.
Results: The mean (±SD) BMI of the participants was 29.0 (±3.6) kg m-2. Only 16.1% precisely perceived themselves as ‘obese’ and increased BMI was only significant predictor of accurate body weight perception (OR=1.23; 95% CI=1.07-1.47; p=0.003). Only 49.0% reported obesity as a disease and 46.0 % and 27.2% that it predisposes to stroke and carcinoma respectively. Although 86.2% have attempted weight reduction, only 33.8% sought professional advice. Diet control was the most common weight reduction strategy (73.1%) and among them 33.3% combined with exercises. One fourth (n=56) relied on green tea for weight reduction and meal skipping was reported in 52.9%.
Conclusion: Significant body weight misperception was reported in lower BMI categories. The overall knowledge regarding obesity and weight reduction was satisfactory though not optimum. Diet control with or without physical exercises was the most popular method of weight reduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:50:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7527cc557f8843eb8ad321cbced03fef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2467-9100 2091-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T10:50:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Journal of Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7527cc557f8843eb8ad321cbced03fef2022-12-21T19:43:18ZengManipal College of Medical Sciences, PokharaAsian Journal of Medical Sciences2467-91002091-05762021-09-011296065https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i9.37670Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri LankaGayani Priyangika Gamage 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9966-0126Priyadarshika Hettiarachchi 1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9312-3138Ranil Jayawardena 2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7352-9365Sudharshani Wasalathanthri 3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6387-3509Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka Background: Obesity and its’ comorbidities in young adults are emerging health concerns. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, type -2 diabetes, carcinomas, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gynecological complications. Young adulthood is considered the best time period to introduce weight control interventions as the established lifestyle behaviors may persist throughout life. Aims and Objectives: The present study assessed self-perception of body weight, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction and their associated factors in a sample of treatment seeking obese young adults. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and sixty-one obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2) young (18-35 years) adults attending an out-patient nutrition clinic of a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka were studied. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information on body weight perception and, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Results: The mean (±SD) BMI of the participants was 29.0 (±3.6) kg m-2. Only 16.1% precisely perceived themselves as ‘obese’ and increased BMI was only significant predictor of accurate body weight perception (OR=1.23; 95% CI=1.07-1.47; p=0.003). Only 49.0% reported obesity as a disease and 46.0 % and 27.2% that it predisposes to stroke and carcinoma respectively. Although 86.2% have attempted weight reduction, only 33.8% sought professional advice. Diet control was the most common weight reduction strategy (73.1%) and among them 33.3% combined with exercises. One fourth (n=56) relied on green tea for weight reduction and meal skipping was reported in 52.9%. Conclusion: Significant body weight misperception was reported in lower BMI categories. The overall knowledge regarding obesity and weight reduction was satisfactory though not optimum. Diet control with or without physical exercises was the most popular method of weight reduction.https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/37670body weight perceptionknowledgeweight reduction practicesobesityyoung adults |
| spellingShingle | Gayani Priyangika Gamage Priyadarshika Hettiarachchi Ranil Jayawardena Sudharshani Wasalathanthri Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka Asian Journal of Medical Sciences body weight perception knowledge weight reduction practices obesity young adults |
| title | Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | body weight perception knowledge practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction a cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in sri lanka |
| topic | body weight perception knowledge weight reduction practices obesity young adults |
| url | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/37670 |
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