Weight loss attempts among Kuwaiti adults attending the Central Medical Nutrition Clinic

To investigate the reasons for attempting to lose weight and identify weight loss perception and characteristics.

A cross-sectional survey of a sample of 526 Kuwaiti adults was carried out at the Central Medical Nutrition Clinic, Kuwait, from August to December 2003. Heights and weights were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified according to WHO grades of obesity. A structured questionnaire used for collecting data was analyzed using SPSS version 12.0.

Of the 526 subjects, the most commonly cited reasons for attempting to lose weight were to avoid health problems (n = 248, 47.1%) followed by improving personal appearance (n = 141, 26.8%). The weight loss perceptions of 263 (50%) of the subjects were within the accepted range (2-5 kg/month); 321 (61.0%)had previously attempted to lose weight, among them 147 (45.8%) followed the advice of doctors and dieticians. The major reason mentioned for stopping the previous dietary regime was inability to resist sweets and traditional foods (n = 99, 31.0%) followed by dissatisfaction with the dietary outcome (n = 79, 24.8%).

The study confirms an awareness of the health risks of obesity,but an inability among the dieters to maintain a weight loss program. Hence, behavioral management techniques may be necessary to develop nutritional education approaches and effective weight management strategies.