The Effects of Weight Control Behaviors among Korean Obese Adults

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify and examine the effects of weight control behaviors correlated with weight loss in obese individuals who attempted to lose weight within the past year. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data from 9,461 obese individuals were collected from the fifth and sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2014). Three of nine verified methods of weight control suggested in the survey were selected: diet therapy (reduced food intake), exercise therapy (exercise), and medication therapy (prescribed weight loss medications). Participants were divided into one of seven groups (diet therapy alone; exercise therapy alone; drug therapy alone; combined diet and exercise therapy; combined exercise and drug therapy; combined diet and drug therapy; or combined diet, exercise, and drug therapy). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether the group that tried to lose weight in the past year had indeed lost weight compared to the group that did not. RESULTS: The odds ratios for weight loss (≥3 but <6 kg vs. ≥6 but <10 kg) for the combined therapies were 2.05 (95% confidence interval, 1.23–3.41) for combined diet and exercise therapy and 5.43 (1.74–16.92) for combined diet, exercise, and drug therapy. CONCLUSION: All levels of weight loss were significantly associated with combined diet and exercise therapy. Weight loss ≥6 kg but <10 kg was significantly associated with combined diet and exercise therapy as well as with combined diet, exercise, and medication therapy among individuals who tried to lose weight in the past year.