Korean J Adult Nurs.  2023 Aug;35(3):195-203. 10.7475/kjan.2023.35.3.195.

Awareness of Blood Pressure or Blood Sugar Level and Subjective Body Weight Perception Impacts the Likelihood of Weight Loss Attempts among Overweight and Obese Adults: A Secondary Data Analysis

• Kim W
• Jo A
• Park G
• Oh H
• Jo M

• KMID: 2545833
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2023.35.3.195

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated the associations of awareness of blood pressure or blood sugar levels and subjective body weight perception with weight loss attempts in overweight and obese adults.
Methods
For this cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study, data were obtained from the 2021 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The participants (N=6,571) were adult residents (≥19 years old) of northern Gyeonggi Province in Korea with body mass indexes of 23 kg/m² or greater.
Results
The average age of the participants was 53.11±16.56 years, with a range of 19 to 100 years. Among the participants, 73.2% responded that they had tried to maintain or lose weight in the past year. The prevalence of weight loss attempts was higher among participants with certain demographic characteristics-women (who comprised 39.2% of the study sample), younger individuals, and those with higher education levels-than among their counterparts.
Conclusion
Participants who were aware of their blood pressure or blood sugar levels and those with a perception of normal or obese body weight were more likely to attempt weight control than participants without these characteristics. Therefore, encouraging individuals to become aware of their blood pressure or blood sugar levels and to maintain an accurate perception of body weight may motivate them to attempt weight management.

Keyword

Adult; Obesity; Weight control; Weight loss