Abstract

Obesity is a serious health problem for many population groups, including military personnel. Model-based health education programs have been shown to be effective in reducing weight. This study assessed the efficacy of an educational intervention based on a trans-theoretical model (TTM) targeting weight loss among active duty military. A single group experimental study using a before-after design was conducted in 49 military personnel with obesity. Constructs such as self-efficacy, decisional balance, stages of change, and processes of change as well as anthropometric measures including weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at three times (baseline, 2 months after the intervention, and 4 months later). The intervention consisted of 10 educational sessions developed based on TTM constructs. At baseline, 30 (61) and 19 (39) persons were in the pre-action and action stages, respectively. By 2 months after the intervention, only 24 persons (49) were in pre-action stages and 25 (51) were in the action stages. Four months later, one (2) and 43 (88) were in pre-action and action stages. The mean changes in self-efficacy (25.7 +/- 4.1 to 29.3 +/- 2.4), decisional balance (9.2 +/- 3.6 to 13.8 +/- 1.9), total cognitive (74.7 +/- 8.5 to 84.7 +/- 6.3), and total behavioral change (60.8 +/- 9.8 to 71.7 +/- 7.8) were significantly different across the three time points. Reductions in weight (99.8 +/- 10.4 to 93.0 +/- 9.6), waist circumference (105.9 +/- 14.2 to 100.2 +/- 13.0), and BMI (32.5 +/- 5.2 to 30.3 +/- 4.5) from baseline to 4 months after the intervention were also significant (p<0.05). An educational program based on TTM may be effective in reducing weight among obese military staff.