Analysis of Weight Control among Overweight and Obese Iranian Adolescents: Application of the Trans-theoretical Model

Background the world-wide prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has reached an alarming level and become a major health problem in today’s world. the aim of this study was to identify the stages and processes of change as well as their relationship with weight control based on a trans - theoretical model (ttm) in overweight and obese iranian adolescents. materials and methods this cross-sectional study was conducted with participation of 250 overweight and obese adolescents selected through cluster sampling method from march to april, 2016. in order to collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire based on ttm؟ the obtained data were entered into spss version 19.0 software. results: the majority of participants (80%) were in inactive stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation) of change for weight control, while only 20% of them were in active stages (action and maintenance). also, results showed that a significant difference between stages and processes of change so that individuals' progress across stages of change from pre-contemplation to maintenance increased cognitive and behavioral processes’ scores (p < 0.05). conclusion: the majority of participants (80%) were in inactive stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation) of change for weight control, while only 20% of them were in active stages (action and maintenance). also, results showed that a significant difference between stages and processes of change so that individuals' progress across stages of change from pre- contemplation to maintenance increased cognitive and behavioral processes’ scores (p < 0.05).