Assessment of Weight Management Practices among Adults in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

With a rise in global incidence of overweight and obesity, the number of patients seeking weight management (WM) advice is likely to increase. Our aim was to explore the prevalence of WM practices and investigate association of WM goals with sociodemographic variables and practices among United Arab Emirates (UAE) adults. An exploratory, cross-sectional research was conducted on 1275 adult males and females, residing in UAE. A structured questionnaire was administered. WM goals to lose/maintain/gain weight were reported in 88.3% participants. WM goals were significantly associated with age, sex, marital status, education, current body weight perception, and medical condition. Out of 21 selected WM practices, popular strategies included increasing physical activity (52.9%), eating less fat (51.1%), consuming fewer calories (43.3%), joining gym (27.5%), skipping meals (26.1%), and consuming natural herbs and teas (20.7%). Visiting dietitian (12.3%) ranked ninth in the order of preference. Males focused on physical activity, gyms, and wellness centers and females on calories counting, dietitian visits, meals replacement, skipping meals, and natural herbs/teas. Married adults reported eating less fat (54.3% versus 47.3%, p = 0.020); singles opted calories counting, gyms, and meals replacement. Frequent referral sources were friends (37.8%) and Internet (32.1%). Most UAE adults had WM goals that were associated with sociodemographic variables and WM practices. Awareness about the ill-effects of unhealthy WM practices and importance of dietitian's consultation are imperative.

Predictors of weight reduction in a Nigerian family practice setting

“…This study showed that 50 per cent of the participants were able to meet the recommended weight reduction target, with the majority seen in the participants less than 40 years, and this was corroborated by the report by Atlee et al, in 2017. 41 There was a female preponderance observed among those who were able to achieve target weight reduction similar to a study by Andreyeva et al, 42 with most weight reduction in unmarried participants which was contradictory to an exploratory study with a cross-sectional study design, in which more married participants reduced in weight. 41 Those participants who had greater than or equal secondary school education in this study reached the target for weight reduction.…”

“…41 There was a female preponderance observed among those who were able to achieve target weight reduction similar to a study by Andreyeva et al, 42 with most weight reduction in unmarried participants which was contradictory to an exploratory study with a cross-sectional study design, in which more married participants reduced in weight. 41 Those participants who had greater than or equal secondary school education in this study reached the target for weight reduction. This observation was not supported by the report by Barbering et al, in 2018, in which it was found that education was not related to trying to reduce weight.…”

Assessment of Weight Loss Practice among Adolescents in Lower Egypt Governorates

“…Inclusion criteria: Apparently healthy adolescent's students aged (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) years, attending governmental preparatory and secondary schools. Exclusion criteria: private or international preparatory and secondary schools.…”

“…11 The popularity of unhealthy weight loss practice is problematic because they are not often effective, and may cause adverse effect on health and not recommended by health professionals. 12 The aims of the study are to assess weight loss practice either (healthy or unhealthy) among adolescents, to determine association between some personal factors and weight loss practice and to know sources of their information.…”

Is Nut Consumption Related to a Sustainable Diet? A Pilot Study on Italian Male Consumers

“…To avoid potential confounders, such as the avoidance of nuts for caloric control or health issues, we included several exclusion criteria including the presence of any disease, food allergy, or intolerance; the consumption of a special diet; or dietary restrictions, such as a vegetarian diet. In this pilot study, we recruited only male consumers due to the higher prevalence of strategies to lose weight for women compared to men [15,16]. Dieting, calorie counting, and avoiding fatty foods are among the various body-weight control behaviors observed in women [16][17][18].…”