Desired Weight of Obesity Patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although expert panels and guidelines recommend that 5~10% weight reductions of initial body weight have beneficial effects for decreasing obesity-related complications, obese persons tend to desire greater weight losses. Little is known about the patients' expectations and the disparity of goal weight between physicians and patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients' weight loss expectation, and the association between the degree of desired weight losses and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A total of 283 obese subjects (84 men, 199 women), aged > or =20 years with body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2 from 19 obesity clinics were included. Patients' desired weight as evaluated using modified GRWQ (Goals and Relative Weight Questionnaire) which included goal weight, ideal weight, satisfactory weight, acceptable weight, and disappointed weight. After 12 weeks, subsequent weight changes and treatment adherence were investigated. RESULTS: Mean BMI of men and women were 30.9+/-4.2 kg/m2 and 29.1+/- 3.8 kg/m2, respectively. Men expected 13.2 kg (14.0%) mean weight reductions and women expected 10.8 kg (15.7%) mean reductions during the 3 months. The heavier the patient's weight, the greater the reduction amount was desired in both men and women. During the 3 months, the dropout rates of men and women were 40.1% and 46.2%, respectively. In women, the amount of desired weight reduction as significantly higher in the dropout group compared to the non-dropout group. Those who attained pre-determined goal weight after 3 months were 6% for men and 4% for women. After 3 months, 81% of male subjects and 80% of female subjects had not achieved even their predefined disappointed weight. CONCLUSION: Obese patients seeking treatment expected average of 15% weight reduction, greater than 'medically reasonable or successful' weight reductions. The disparities between patients' expectations and physicians' recommendations could influence treatment adherence.