Effects of Weight Control Program among Overweight Public Health Offices, Public Health Zone 1, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

The objective of this quasi-experimental research was to explore the effects of weight control program in overweight public health officers working in Public Health Zone 1, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Participants were 60 overweight public health officers selected by purposive sampling with inclusion criteria and divided into two groups; 1) the experimental group with 30 staff who worked at Chakkarat Hospital; and 2) the control group with 30 staff who worked at Chalerm Prakiat Hospital. A weight-control program was conducted as the intervention instrument. Data were collected by using a knowledge test about body-weight control, a self-efficacy evaluation, an outcome expectation questionnaire and a self-practice assessment questionnaire which their reliabilities were 0.72, 0.71, 0.93 and 0.76 respectively. The data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, maximum and minimum values, mean, standard deviation and t-test.

The results showed that after the program implementation, the experimental group had the average scores of knowledge, self-efficacy and self-practice about body-weight control higher than before intervention and also higher than the control group significantly (p<0.05). Furthermore, the experimental group had their body mass index lower than before the intervention and also lower than the control group significantly (p<0.05). However, the average score of the outcome expectation had no significant difference.

As a result, the weight control program can help the intervention group to decrease their body mass index and lose their body weights. Therefore, the program should be considered to apply for healthcare personnel to improve their knowledge and practice to be role model for controlling their body weight.