The effectiveness of the trans-theoretical model in managing adult obese and overweight individuals.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of obesity is gradually increasing in our country and worldwide. Being obese and overweight are risk factors for chronic diseases. Obesity has a multifactorial etiology, so treatment should involve lifestyle changes, psychological strategies, pharmacologic treatment, and bariatric surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the trans-theoretical stages of change (TTM SOC) model in managing adult obese and overweight patients.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted with 133 adults who were admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Adana City Research and Training Hospital between April 1, 2017, and April 30, 2019. Socio-demographic characteristics, blood pressures, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory data were compared between the baseline and the first, third, and sixth months.

RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) was higher among those with a low educational level. The mean age, the number of medications used, and the metabolic parameter values were significantly lower among the participants who did not have a chronic disease. Blood pressures, weight, BMI, plasma glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, and triglyceride were statistically significantly higher at the baseline compared to follow-up values. Fasting plasma glucose was higher at the baseline in diabetic patients. The results were compared with Student t and One Way ANOVA tests. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to demonstrate the association between baseline and repeated metabolic measurements.

CONCLUSION: The trans-theoretical model is effective in managing adult obese and overweight individuals and also in glycemic control in obese Type-2 diabetics.