Obesity-related knowledge and beliefs in obese adults attending a specialist weight-management service: Implications for weight loss over 1 year

ObjectiveCognitive approaches to obesity management assume that weight loss is more likely to occur if individuals perceive many benefits and few costs. Research to-date has been limited by the lack of prospective studies.MethodsA longitudinal study design. At baseline, obese patients attending weight-management clinics (n = 104) completed a questionnaire that assessed knowledge and beliefs regarding obesity's health and social/aesthetic consequences (Obesity Risk Knowledge (ORK-10) scale and the Obesity Beliefs scale), self-reported weight/height, goal weight, health-related quality of life, and sociodemographic characteristics. Medical records were also reviewed. At the 12-month follow-up, a second questionnaire assessed self-reported weight/height.ResultsAt baseline, average ORK-10 scale scores were 4/10. At follow-up, 32 out of the 66 participants retained on the study did not gain weight (48.5%). For these participants, weight loss was associated with endorsement of the health (rs = 0.40) and the social/aesthetic (rs = 0.31) costs of obesity (p < 0.05).ConclusionDespite their high-risk status, participants demonstrated low levels of knowledge regarding obesity's health risks. Weight loss was associated with greater awareness of the health and social/aesthetic costs of obesity.Practice ImplicationsThis study suggests that health education is required to facilitate informed choices and supports the use of cognitive approaches which promote both the health and social/aesthetic consequences of obesity.