Outcomes of a Weight Loss Program in Pre-menopause Over-weight Thai Pre-menopause Women - ผลของโปรแกรมการลดน้ำหนักในหญิงไทยก่อนวัยทองที่มีน้ำหนักเกินมาตรฐาน

Abstract

Overweight has been a significant cause of several health problems in pre-menopause women. This quasi-experimental study was aimed at examing the effects of a weight reduction program on perceived self-efficacy for weight reduction, weight reduction behavior, and body mass index among overweight women aged 35-45 years. A sample of 86 participants who met the research criteria were randomly assigned into an experimental group (n=44) and a control one (n=42). In all, the final sample consisted of 75 women: 37 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group. The body mass index, waist circumference, self-efficacy for weight reduction, and weight reduction behaviors were measured at baseline, 1-month, and 3-month after implemented the program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Repeated Measure ANOVA, and independent ttest. The results revealed that at 1- month and 3-month after enrolled into the program, the experimental group showed higher scores of perceived self-efficacy for weight reduction, higher scores of weight reduction behaviors, and had lower body mass index. However, the results showed that at 1- month and 3-month, the experimental group had insignificantly higher scores of perceived selfefficacy for weight reduction, insignificantly higher scores of weight reduction behaviors, and insignificantly lower body mass index than baseline. In addition, the comparison of mean differences at each point of time at 1-mouth and 3-month revealed that the experimental group showed higher increase in perceived self-efficacy for weight reduction, weight- reduction behaviors, and body mass index than those in the control group.

Key words: Self-efficacy for weight reduction, weight reduction behaviors, body mass index, pre-menopause, over weight women