Experiences of recent weight-management attempts: insights from a web-based cross-sectional study

Understanding perceived barriers and facilitators in this context is essential for designing effective interventions. This study aimed to determine perceived barriers to weight loss and maintaining an optimum weight among Bahraini adults who have previously tried to lose weight.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and July 2023 using an online questionnaire targeting Bahraini adults who had attempted weight loss within the past year. Individuals with a history of surgical interventions for obesity were excluded. The questionnaire was pretested for consistency and administered in both English and Arabic. Participants were recruited via social media platforms, yielding 1,453 complete responses.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among participants was 78.2%, with a higher crude prevalence observed among women (81.4%) compared to men (66.7%). However, after adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors, female participants had lower odds of obesity (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37-0.67), indicating that the higher unadjusted prevalence among women was influenced by confounding factors such as age and occupation distribution. Increasing age was strongly associated with higher odds of obesity, particularly among individuals aged 36-45 years (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.91-5.95) and >45 years (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.75-7.37), compared with those aged <25 years. Marital status and employment also showed significant associations: married individuals (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.30-2.46), unemployed participants (AOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.48-3.76), and retired participants (AOR = 7.67, 95% CI: 2.86-20.53) had higher odds of obesity. Weight-loss behaviors were also associated with obesity status: those who dieted (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.81-3.54), exercised (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.07-2.04), or used medications (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 2.93-9.35) to lose weight had higher odds of obesity. Participants who held neutral views regarding lack of exercise as a cause of weight gain demonstrated lower odds of obesity (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.90).

This study identifies that perceptions of obesity are driven by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, with women reporting greater challenges and a stronger reliance on conventional weight-loss methods. Physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary practices emerged as key barriers to effective weight management.