POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES DETERMINING HEALTH TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT

Abstract

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, obesity is a pandemic that currently affects the health and quality of life of more than 2 billion people worldwide. Objective: This study investigated whether positive and/or negative attitudes of the subjects towards oneself, low and/or high self-esteem and in relation to the proposed treatment, expectation of success and/or failure, would be determining factors for the end result of the treatment of overweight and obesity. Method: Data on attitudes were collected through a structured interview before the start of treatment, and data on weight, measurements and hormonal and blood tests were collected before and at the end of the weight loss program in a sample of 470 patients with overweight and obesity for 30 months, and where all participants received the same low carb food reeducation program, the definition of success being that achieved at the end of the treatment and agreed at the beginning with the patient himself in terms of weight loss. The present food reeducation low carb program was built specifically for this research and was also investigated through clinical data collected before and after treatment. Results: the total population was divided into three groups referring to positive attitudes, negative attitudes and those who changed their attitudinal perspective during treatment, being 303 participants had positive attitudes and of these, 97.6% achieved adherence and success to the treatment; 147 participants had negative attitudes, of which 93.4% had neither success nor adherence to treatment, although 5.7% of the total population, being 27 subjects had adherence and success in treatment. Conclusion: Positive and/or negative attitudes towards themselves and the proposed treatment affect its final outcome.