The effect of educational and counseling intervention given according to planned behavior theory on health behaviors in overweight and obese women

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: The application of theory-based interventions to create behavioral change in the management of a chronic disease such as obesity will be an important step. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the education and counseling intervention given to overweight and obese women according to the theory of planned behavior on their health behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was carried out in three separate family health centers in Sakarya between 5 April 2021 and 17 January 2022. The study, which was in a randomized pre-test-post-test controlled experimental design, consisted of 78 overweight and obese women in total, 39 of whom were in the intervention group and 39 in the control group, between the ages of 18-49. While the women in the intervention group were given a six-month training program and six-month counseling service structured according to the theory of planned behavior, the women in the control group were given standard obesity training and were put on hold for six months. Women's Descriptive Characteristics Form, Anthropometric Measurement Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II were used to collect data. FINDINGS: While there was a decrease in the post-test anthropometric measurement values of the intervention group compared to the pre-test, there was an increase in the average of walking, vigorous, moderate and total physical activity scores of the IPAQ Short Form, and the difference between the measurements was found to be significant. The post-test SBYDO II health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, stress management and total scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group, and the difference was significant. (p<0,05). RESULT: It has been determined that the education and counseling services applied to overweight and obese women based on the theory of planned behavior are effective in gaining positive health behaviors. Key words: Obesity, Women, Planned Behavior Theory, Education, Counseling