Abstract:
Being overweight is a major public health issue because it has an impact on health and there is a risk of getting various chronic diseases in the future. The purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to compare the average difference between scores on weight control and body weight among public health volunteers in coastal areas. The sample group is from public health volunteers, aged 35-59 years with a body mass index greater than or equal to 23 kg/m2 (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2). The participant of this study was randomly selected, the total volunteer is 60 people: experimental group (30 people), comparison group (30 people). The experimental group received a 12-week health literacy program on weight control behavior to change eating habits and exercise then recording the behavior in the action manual for the weight control. The comparison group have received knowledge about how to behave normally without any intervention. The researchers then collected data with a questionnaire on food consumption behavior and exercise behavior from the health education department, the correlation coefficient was ⍺=.88 and ⍺=.82. and weight and height were measured before and after receiving the program. The data was analyzed by T-test. The results of the study found that after the experiment, the experimental group had statistically significant difference in weight control and body weight at (t= 13.75, p<.001), (t= 9.19, p=.000), (t =2.37, p<.001). Therefore, community practice nurses or researchers can use this program to control overweight among health volunteers in coastal areas by using a 12-week implementation period. Moreover, health literacy should study and understand this program before using it and should be used to develop health knowledge to complete all 6 skills.