The effect of weight loss due to a low-calorie diet on the quality of life and self-esteem of overweight or obese Iranian women: a quasi-experimental intervention study

Abstract

Background : Obesity is a health and medical issue in societies that endangers physical and mental health. The objective of the present study was to examine the impact of a 16-week low-calorie diet on the quality of life and self-esteem of obese or overweight women. The present study hypothesizes that a reduction in body mass will result in an enhancement in the mean score of quality of life and self-esteem. Materials and methods : It was a quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test design for 16 weeks. 116 overweight or obese women were prescribed a low-calorie diet. Anthropometric assessments, dietary intake (using a 24-hour food recall), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form, the Persian version of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire were assessed at baseline and 16 weeks after the intervention. Results : The percentage of weight loss in comparison to the initial weight was 7 ± 3.62%. Following the intervention, a significant increase was observed in the scores of the physical domains of quality of life, Physical Health Summary Scale (PCS), and Vitality (VT) (P<0.001). A weight reduction of 5% or more was found to be associated with a significant change in the mean score of self-esteem and the physical domains of quality of life (P<0.001). Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that moderate weight loss can significantly improve the quality of life and self-esteem of obese women, even if they do not achieve their ideal weight. Therefore, interventions should emphasize the importance of maintaining lifestyle changes.