Bagcilar Medical Bulletin (Jun 2023)

Evaluation of Health Literacy and Obesity-related Well-being in Obese Adults

  • Şükran Acar Ceyhan,
  • Sibel Tunç Karaman,
  • Okcan Basat

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4274/BMB.galenos.2023.2023-03-025
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 179 – 187

Abstract

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Objective:Obesity can cause many diseases and reduces the quality of life. Health literacy (HL) can play a decisive role in terms of the health status of the obese person. In this study; it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between HL and obesity-related well-being in obese adults and examine the affecting factors.Method:This cross-sectional study consisted of individuals aged 18-65 years who were admitted to the family medicine outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital, between April and July, 2022, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 and above for the last year, and who met the inclusion criteria. The patient information form, the obesity-related well-being questionnaire (ORWELL 97-TR), and the health literacy scale-short form (HLS-SF) was used to obtain data.Results:Among 201 participants in the study, 70.6% (n=142) were mildly obese. The mean value of the HLS-SF index score was 32.71±9.93, and the ORWELL 97-TR total score was 41.22±14.86. A significant correlation was determined between HLS-SF and ORWELL 97-TR relevance-“social relations” sub-dimension score (r=0.292; p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the HLS-SF score and obesity duration (p=0.030), weight change in the last year (p=0.048), diet (p=0.048), and exercising (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed between ORWELL 97-TR total score and age (p=0.007), educational status (p=0.001), BMI (p=0.016), weight change in the last year (p=0.001), diet (p<0.001) and exercising (p=0.009).Conclusion:According to the scores obtained from the scales in this study, the quality of life of the participants was moderate, while HL was found to be moderate-good. However, as HL increased, the quality of life of obese individuals was negatively affected in terms of social relations. While HL level was higher in those who previously dieted and exercised, weight gain and longer duration of obesity were associated with lower HL. High education level, young age and weight gain negatively affected the quality of life. Our data are important in terms of emphasizing the importance of increasing HL in order for the society and health professionals to effectively manage obesity in the long-term.

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