Health Care : Current Reviews

A descriptive study: Weight management practices of members of a professional nurses association trying to lose weight

2^nd Annual Congress and Medicare Expo on Primary Care & General Pediatrics

September 19-20, 2016 Phoenix, USA

Eva Stephens

University of Texas, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Health Care: Current Reviews

Abstract:

Obesity has reached pandemic levels. A critical challenge today is improving the health behaviors of those providing care to the general public. Nurses as health promoters & role models of healthy lifestyles are in a unique position to combat this global problem. This descriptive quantitative study sought to describe the weight management practices of members of a professional nursing association who were trying to lose weight. Questions were adapted from the behavioral risk factor surveillance survey. In addition, the Health Styles survey was used along with one additionally inserted question. Twenty percent of the nursesâ?? loss weight, average change in weight +2.88 pounds (SD=7.67), maximum individual weight loss -21.50 pounds. Weight loss was greatest during consecutively held meeting and non-holiday seasons. ANOVA revealed no significant differences in weight change among normal weight, overweight & obese participants after the peer-led interventions (F (2.26) =0.402, p=0.673. Pearson Product Moment analysis revealed a moderate, but statistically significant correlation between the numbers of meetings attended by the participant & weight loss (r=-0.370, p=0.044). A small percentage of the nurses moved from the obese classification into the overweight status, thereby improving their health. Over 60% attempted to lose weight by combining dietary & exercise strategies. Thirteen percent met the recommended guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 60-90 minutes of physical activity guidelines to lose weight.

Biography :

Email: emstephe@utmb.edu