Background: Many individuals are successful in self-managing weight-loss without assistance from professional services, yet the characteristics and strategies of has such individuals have not been subject to research. This study aimed to identify characteristics that differentiate self-managed from assisted weight-loss, as part of a program of work examining why some people are successful at losing weight on their own.
Methods: Australians adults, attempting to lose weight were recruited through Facebook to complete an online survey. A total of 233 participants completed the survey. Data was collected on demographics, weight and height, weight-loss history, motivation, diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, weight-loss strategies and monitoring. Participants were categorised as ‘self-managed’ (n=146) or ‘assisted’ (n= 87), and the relationship between these categories and demographics, lifestyle and weight-loss related characteristics was examined using a multivariate logit model.
Results: Participants were mostly female (78%), married (70%) and English speaking (85%). 47% had a degree or higher degree qualifications. More than half (54%) of the participants had obesity (BMI => 30) and 32% had overweight (BMI => 25), 13% were of normal weight. The results from regression show that those who were married; had attempted losing weight four times or more; followed popular diets; and reported using smartphone apps had higher odds of self-managing their weight loss (Odds Ratio: 4.03 (95%CI 1.06,15.40), 3.5 (95%CI 1.19,10.29), 4.26 (95%CI 1.49,11.50), 6.28 (95%CI 1.83, 21.51)). Those who had previously utilised professional assistance were less likely to self-manage. (Odds Ratio: 0.09 (95%CI 0.028, 0.49)). The results from stepwise regressions indicate that weight-loss strategies and weight-loss histories explain a large variation in the choice to self-manage weight loss.
Conclusion: Exploring characteristics of those who self-managed their weight-loss, and the factors that contribute to their success can provide lessons that might be carried over to planned weight management strategies.