title: Comparison of the body compositions in obese and nonobese individuals: Can learning body compositions motivate losing weight?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare body compositions in obese and nonobese individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study constituted of 428 individuals. Body compositions were determined using the Tanita.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the participants, 300 (70.1%) were female. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 30.8% and 47.7%, respectively. Having low educational level, female gender, not working, being married, and nonsmoker significantly increased more in obese than nonobese (P < 0.001). Total body water, visceral fat accumulation, body mass index, resting metabolic rate, fat-free mass, bone mass, and muscle mass were significantly higher in obese when compared to those with nonobese (P < 0.001). Thirteen percent of the participants were thinking of changing their diet and lifestyle to lose weight at the beginning. After learning their body compositions, the rate increased to 60% who decided to modify their lifestyle and asked for help to lose weight. This behavior change was significant in especially the overweighted participants (P = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The changes in body composition are associated with obesity and increased risk for certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus. Learning the health risks can motivate losing weight. Multicentered studies can be illuminating different cultural factors about obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Meram Medical Faculty, University of Necmettin Erbakan, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Meram Medical Faculty, University of Necmettin Erbakan, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cihan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology