Obesity awareness-insight is inversely associated with body composition and physical activity behaviour in women with obesity at the admission to a lifestyle modification program

Backgroud Increased obesity awareness may improve the compliance and adherence to secondary prevention initiations and has the potential to reduce obesity-related morbidity and mortality. In the literature, obesity awareness and its impact on body composition was investigated in various populations. However, the association between obesity awareness-insight with physical activity behaviour has not been investigated. Purpose The aim of this study is to examine obesity awareness-insight in relation to body composition and physical activity behavior in women with obesity who admitted to a lifestyle modification program. Methods Eighty-two women with obesity (age= 38.22±12.49/years; 46 moderate, 26 severe, 10 morbid) were included. Body composition was assessed. Obesity Awareness and Insight scale(OASIS), Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire (SBQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) were questioned. Results OASIS total score was positively correlated with SBQ total weekday time (p=0.009), SBQ total weekend time (p=0.024), SBQ total weekly time (p=0.008), BMI (p<0.0001), waist circumference (p=0.003), visceral fat (p<0.0001) and body fat percentage (p=0.003). A negative correlation was found between OASIS negative outcome awareness sub score and IPAQ-SF moderate physical activity (p=0.04). OASIS mean total score (p<0.001, Z= -4.06), illness awareness from OASIS subgroups (p=0.00, Z= -2.89), symptom attribution (p=0.00, Z= -3.06), awareness of need for treatment (p=0.00, Z= -3.20), and awareness of negative outcomes (p=0.01, Z= -2.57) were found to be significantly higher in Class-2 obesity than in Class-1 obesity. Illness awareness of OASIS subgroups (p=0.04, Z= -1.99) and awareness of need for treatment (p=0.01, Z= -2.54) were higher in Class-3 obesity than in Class-1 obesity. Conclusion This study demonstrated that increased obesity awareness-insight correlated with deteriorating body composition and increased sedentary behavior among women with obesity who were admitted to the lifestyle modification program. Furthermore, awareness of obesity-related adverse outcomes revealed an inverse association between with moderate physical activity. Behavioral strategies are needed to motivate women with obesity to compliance in lifestyle change to improve body composition and participation to physical activity.