Investigation of the relationship of obesity awareness with physical activity level and sedentary behavior in obese women

In our study, it was aimed to investigation of the relationship between obesity awareness and physical activity level and sedentary behavior in obese women. Eighty-two obese (body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m2) women were included in the study. Body composition and bioelectrical impedance analysis findings were measured. Obesity awareness was evaluated with the "Obesity Awareness and Insight Scale (OASIS)" and "Obesity Awareness Scale (OAS), sedentary behaviors were evaluated with the "Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ)" and physical activity levels were evaluated with the "International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF)". According to our findings; OASIS mean total score (p<0,001), OASIS subgroups of disease awareness from (p=0,004), symptom attribution (p=0,002), awareness of need for treatment (p= 0,001), and awareness of negative outcomes (p=0,010) were found to be significantly higher in Class-2 obese women than in Class-1. OASIS subgroups of disease awareness (p=0,046) and awareness of need for treatment (p=0,011) were higher in Class-3 obese women than in Class-1 obese women. A positive correlation between women's OASIS mean total scores with SBQ total weekday time (p=0.009), SBQ total weekend time (p=0.024), SBQ total weekly time (p=0.008), BMI (p<0.0001), waist circumference (p=0.003), visceral adiposity (p<0.0001), body fat ratio (p=0.003) was found. A negative correlation was found between OASIS negative outcome awareness and IPAQ-SF moderate physical activity score (p=0,040). In the scale in which we evaluated only obesity awareness (OAS), it was seen that obesity awareness was not associated with any parameter (p>0.05). In smokers, the mean total score of OAS (p=0,018) and OAS obesity awareness score (p=0,016) were higher than non-smokers. The results of our study show that women's obesity awareness-insights are associated with sedentary behavior habits and physical activity levels. This result suggests that the development of insight in addition to awareness may have positive effects on physical activity level and sedentary behavior in obese women. Keywords: Physical activity, insight, obesity awareness, sedantary behavior