Social Classes, Level of Education, Marital Status, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption as Predictors in a Successful Treatment of Obesity

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate if there is a relation between social classes, level of education, marital status, alcohol and tobacco consumption with the success of weight loss in obese patients at a nutrition clinic. Methods: A clinical intervention study was conducted among overweight and obese patients who consulted a nutrition clinic in Barranquilla (Colombia) for the purpose of nutritional assessment. They were subject to a personalized weekly follow-up consultation over the course of 16 weeks in which food consumption patterns, body image and self-perception were registered. Results: A total of 271 patients were evaluated. 27 (10%) of whom did not complete the study. 244 (90%) patients followed the treatment, 70 (28,7%) didn't lose weight, considering them failures and 174 (71,3%) did lose weight. No considerable differences were observed in relation to social classes, level of education, marital status, alcohol and tobacco consumption in failure-success distribution. Conclusion: Based on these results, social classes, level of education, marital status, alcohol and tobacco consumption are not regarded as influential factors in the successful outcome of treatment in overweight and obese patients.