Quantitative Analysis of Obese Hypertensive Women and the Health Belief Model

Abstract

Valerie L Fernandez

This study utilized secondary data to understand weight-loss behaviors in obese adult women with hypertension. There are multifactorial reasons for obesity. This study attempted to clarify why people cannot lose weight and why many often regain weight. The gap in the literature relates to why the concepts such as perception of risk, benefits, and obstacles to action have not been found to cause individuals to achieve weight loss or to maintain weight loss. Secondary data were used from the NHANES dataset, a weighted dataset representative of the U.S. population. The sample used in this study included 411 obese hypertensive women over the age of 18. In all, six years of data from 2009-2014 were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. Perception about the obstacles an individual confronts can be a barrier to successful weight loss. If an individual thinks success cannot be attained, efforts to lose weight will fail. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess the variables. The results indicated that only perception of weight acted as a cue to action for losing weight. That is, the perception of weight was the only statistically significant finding of reasons obese hypertensive women initiate weight loss efforts. Recommendations for future research include an investigation of the perception of weight status and body habitus, and to assess what triggers a poor perception of weight and body habitus as a cue to action to lose weight.

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