Obesity awareness-insight is inversely associated with body composition and physical activity behaviour in women with obesity at the admission to a lifestyle modification program

This study was conducted to examine obesity awareness-insight in relation to body composition and physical activity behaviour in women with obesity who were admitted to a lifestyle modification program.

Eighty-two participants (age = 38.22 ± 12.49 years) were included. Body composition was assessed. The Obesity Awareness and Insight scale (OASIS), Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF) were applied.

The OASIS total score was positively correlated with SBQ and body composition. OASIS “negative outcome awareness” score was negatively correlated with IPAQ-SF moderate physical activity (p < 0.05 for all). OASIS total score and “illness awareness” and “awareness of need for treatment” scores were higher in Class 2 and Class 3 obese participants than in Class 1 participants.

This study demonstrated that increased obesity awareness-insight correlated with deteriorating body composition and increased sedentary behaviour among women with obesity who were admitted to a lifestyle modification program. Furthermore, awareness of obesity-related adverse outcomes revealed an inverse association with physical activity.