The effect of education and obesity on attitudes towards fads related to weight reduction among Arab women in Qatar

Abstract

A sample of 535 Arab women in Qatar (an Arab Gulf country) was interviewed to obtain their attitudes towards eight fads related to weight reduction, and the effect of educational level and obesity on these attitudes. In general 20 per cent to 54 per cent of women believed in these fads and 50.6 per cent to 45.1 per cent did not know whether or not these fads are correct. The education level of women has a significant effect on the belief of the attitude statements. Highly educated women were more likely to disagree on the attitudes related to weight reduction than low and middle education women. Obese women were more likely to believe in these fads than overweight and non‐obese women. Health education programmes should focus on correcting several fads related to weight reduction as a part of any programme to prevent and control obesity in the Arab community.

Citation

Musaiger, A.O. and Shahbeek, N.E. (2001), "The effect of education and obesity on attitudes towards fads related to weight reduction among Arab women in Qatar", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 201-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346650110392352