Analysis of Weight Control among Overweight and Obese Iranian Adolescents: Application of the Trans-theoretical Model

Haghi, Mehdi; Mazloomy Mahmoodabad, Seyed Saeed; Mozaffari-Khosravi, Hassan; Eslami Shahrbabaki, Heydar; Fallahzadeh, Hossein; Rafati Fard, Mohammad

doi:10.22038/ijp.2017.23310.1959

Analysis of Weight Control among Overweight and Obese Iranian Adolescents: Application of the Trans-theoretical Model

Document Type : original article

Authors

¹ Department of Health Services, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

² Departments of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

³ Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Anar, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.

⁴ Departments of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

10.22038/ijp.2017.23310.1959

Abstract

Background
The world-wide prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has reached an alarming level and become a major health problem in today’s world. The aim of this study was to identify the stages and processes of change as well as their relationship with weight controlbased on a Trans- theoretical Model (TTM) in overweight and obese Iranian adolescents.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted with participation of 250 overweight and obese adolescents selected through cluster sampling method fromMarch to April, 2016. In order tocollect data, a researcher-made questionnaire based on TTM ؟The obtained data were entered into SPSS version19.0 software.
Results: The majority of participants (80%) were in inactive stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation) of change for weight control, while only 20% of them were in active stages (action and maintenance). Also, results showed that a significant differencebetween stages and processes of change so that individuals' progress across stages of change frompre-contemplation to maintenance increased cognitive and behavioral processes’ scores (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The majority of participants (80%) were in inactive stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation) of change for weight control, while only 20% of them were in active stages (action and maintenance). Also, results showed that a significant differencebetween stages and processes of change so that individuals' progress across stages of change frompre-contemplation to maintenance increased cognitive and behavioral processes’ scores (p < 0.05).

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