The effect of behavioral treatment on nutritional behaviors of obese women

In this study which is planned as interventional type, it has been aimed to research the effect of behavioral treatment, which is given to obese individuals who applied to the Diet Clinic of İzmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, on nutritional behavior. Study population was comprised of women who were applied to the diet clinic between the dates September 1 - November 1 2010, with BMI over 30 kg/m2, at the age of 30-49, not handicapped physically, without any ongoing disease, nonpregnant, not performed diet program in the last 6 months, not taking weight-loss medication and graduate of elementary school or higher. Sample size was calculated 188 persons, with 0.20 influence quantity, %80 power and %95 confidence level. The behavioral treatment was practiced on the study population for a period of 3 months. As a part of this treatment the women were given alimentation education, nutrition programs were arranged and they were asked to keep a diary to note what they eat. The women were provided telephone consultancy service every fortnight and they were asked to come for check monthly. The independent variable of the research is behavioral treatment while the dependent variables are number of daily meals, the amount of water consumed, the consumption of fruits and vegetables, the type of bread consumed and the BMI. The research was completed with 127 persons. In the analysis, t test for dependent groups and McNemar analysis are used. In the beginning of the research the average number of meals consumed was 3.00±1.18, the amount of water was 6.20±3.34 glasses of water, the amount of fruit and vegetable was 3.42±1.62 portions in one day. The number of persons who consume any of whole grain breads was 24. The average of BMI was 36.21±5.30 kg/m2. At the end of the observation period of 3 months, the average number of meals consumed gone up to 5.46±0.99, the amount of water to 8.81±2.80 glasses of water and the amount of fruits and vegetables to 5.83±1.59 portions. The rate of consumers of any of the whole grain breads was risen. At the end of the 3rd month, with regard to the initial conditions, a meaningful increase in the behaviors for which behavioral changes had been expected and a meaningful decrease in BMI were detected. An evolution was realized on the nutritional behaviors of persons by means of behavioral treatment. To ensure that the positive behaviors related to eating and physical activity remains unchanged and becomes lifestyle should constitute the essentials of the bariatrics.Keywords: Obesity, behavioral treatment, nutritional behaviors, intervention