title: Predictors of initial weight loss among women with abdominal obesity: a path model using self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictors of initial weight loss among women with abdominal obesity by using a path model.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Successful weight loss in the initial stages of long-term weight management may promote weight loss maintenance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were 75 women with abdominal obesity, who were enrolled in a 12-month Community-based Heart and Weight Management Trial and followed until a 6-month assessment. The Weight Efficacy Lifestyle, Exercise Self-Efficacy and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II measured diet self-efficacy, exercise self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviour respectively. All endogenous and exogenous variables used in our path model were change variables from baseline to 6 months. Data were collected between May 2011-May 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the path model, increases in both diet and exercise self-efficacy had significant effects on increases in health-promoting behaviour. Increases in diet self-efficacy had a significant indirect effect on initial weight loss via increases in health-promoting behaviour. Increases in health-promoting behaviour had a significant effect on initial weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among women with abdominal obesity, increased diet self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviour were predictors of initial weight loss. A mechanism by which increased diet self-efficacy predicts initial weight loss may be partially attributable to health-promoting behavioural change. However, more work is still needed to verify causality. Based on the current findings, intensive nursing strategies for increasing self-efficacy for weight control and health-promoting behaviour may be essential components for better weight loss in the initial stage of a weight management intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Hyuncheol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: abdominal obesity; behavioural research; nursing; obesity; self-efficacy; weight loss