Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among 18- to 49-Year-Old Women: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction The prevalence of obesity has become a remarkable public health concern in a global extent. This study aimed to examine the difference between the healthy lifestyle behaviors of women with normal weight and those who are obese. Method This comparative descriptive study included a total of 302 women aged 18–49 years. Results According to regression analysis; duration of education (β = −0.154), (age (β = 0.376), presence of obese individuals in the family (β = 0.177) and HLSBS II scores (β = −0.115) were the factors that affected the BMI. The predictive value of these variables was 34.1%. Discussion A significant difference was found between women with normal weight and obese women in terms of several sub-dimensions and overall HLSBS II score. We recommend that healthcare staff should design training and counseling services to improve the health behaviors of overweight and obese women.