Wanicha Kitvorapat. Development of weight control program for overweight working women . Doctoral Degree(Public Health Nutrition). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Development of weight control program for overweight working women
Abstract:
Being overweight can seriously affect health and longevity. Developing a
weight control program manual by applying theory-based behavior modification,
nutrition and exercise is important. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a weight
control program intervention for overweight working women related to improved
eating behavior, exercise patterns, energy intake, body composition and biochemistry.
A quasi-experimental research with pretest-posttest control group design was
conducted from October 2002 to April 2003. The participants of this study were sixty-
four healthy clerical or financial officials of the Ministry of Public Health, aged 35-54
years with a body mass index of 24 to 34 kg/m2, and ready for action to control
weight. Participants were assigned to a 24-week weight control program on a self-
managed basis with weekly contact for 12 weeks and biweekly motivation for 12
weeks by the program provider. Study endpoints were analyzed using repeated
measurement analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression.
The study findings showed the intervention group improved in eating
behavior, increased brisk walking, reduced energy intake, weight, BMI, percentage of
body fat, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, mid-arm circumference, mid-thigh
circumference, improved in total cholesterol, ratio of total cholesterol to HDL
cholesterol and triglycerides, and increased in HDL cholesterol. All these outcomes
among the intervention group were better than those in the comparison group
(p<.05). Nearly 44% of the intervention group had achieved more than 5 % weight loss
at 12 weeks. 56% had achieved it by 24 weeks. 16 % achieved more than 10 %
weight loss by 24 weeks. Predictors of weight loss by strategies of eating behavior
were total score of eating behavior at 12-week (R2 = .098, p <.05), and the score of
dietary restraint at 24-week (R2= .115, P <.05). The drop-out rate over the study
period was as low as 7 %. The weight control program was accepted by participants
as one of the best weight control manuals. This weight control program should be
widely adopted.