title: Women pharmacy consumers' experiences with weight loss treatment across Victoria, Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the role of pharmacy in weight management is increasing, anecdotally weight loss treatments are consumed by more women than men, and there are some causes of overweight and obesity specific to women, it is important that pharmacists provide evidence-based services that consider women's needs as a basis for a future population based approach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine what weight management options are preferred by women pharmacy consumers, how they feel about pharmacists providing advice in this area, and what they desire in a weight management program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of women pharmacy consumers were asked to complete a questionnaire in randomly selected pharmacies across Victoria. Questionnaires were self-completed or with assistance from the researcher. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine any significant associations between demographic characteristics and previous weight loss attempts, pharmacy specific outcomes and what women want in their ideal weight management program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community pharmacies across Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The views and opinions of women pharmacy consumers across Victoria regarding pharmacy involvement in weight management and currently available weight management products and/or programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was high: 86 % (395/460). Approximately 48 % (153/319) of women were in the overweight, obese or severely obese body mass index category (BMI). 71.1 % (281/395) of women had attempted to lose weight in the past. Women in the overweight BMI category were 2.6 times more likely to have attempted to lose weight (95 % CI 1.4, 4.9), and women in the obese BMI category were 10.6 times more likely to have attempted to lose weight (95 % CI 4.1, 27.7) compared to the women with a BMI <25 kg/m(2). Approximately 80 % (230/281) of women felt comfortable receiving advice from pharmacists with 42 % (117/281) wanting a pharmacist in their ideal weight management program and 42 % (118/281) wanting their program to be delivered in a pharmacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women pharmacy consumers used a range of weight management approaches and had mainly positive views about the involvement of pharmacists in their ideal weight management program.
authors: Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville Campus, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia.
authors: Souhiela
authors: S
authors: Fakih
authors: Safeera Y
authors: SY
authors: Hussainy
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Marriott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
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