Quality of Healthy Weight Loss Workshop Delivery: The Perspective of Healthy Weight Loss Workshop Providers

BACKGROUND: In Slovenia, we run a preventive healthy weight loss programme for the adult population, which has been running healthy weight loss workshops since 2002. It focuses on the management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and also includes health education. In the Healthy Weight Loss Programme, participants receive professional support and assistance with weight loss, knowledge and skills to change their diet and exercise habits, and psychological support in the process of losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. AIM: The aim of the study is to analyse the perceptions of healthy weight loss workshop providers on the quality of healthy weight loss workshops. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental method of empirical research was used. The measurement instrument employed was a questionnaire that was completed by 144 healthy weight loss workshop participants. For statistical analysis we used the binomial test to analyse whether the results matched the defined expectations and the Mann-Whitney U test to analyse the importance of individual factors in motivation for weight maintenance. RESULTS: Healthy weight loss workshop facilitators found that weight loss and appearance improvement (x̄ = 4.4), desire for a changed, more beautiful body image (x̄ = 4.3), concern for well-being (x̄ = 4.2), concern for health and low self-esteem (x̄ = 4.2) were the most prevalent reasons for participation among workshop participants. They also note that there is a need for individualised weight loss maintenance plans (p<0.001) and for the inclusion of additional content to motivate weight maintenance in healthy weight loss programmes (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Healthy weight loss workshop facilitators support the continuous follow-up of participants, as they are aware that weight management and maintenance after healthy weight loss workshops is about participants adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes knowledge of nutrition and exercise, a positive attitude towards change and the right kind of motivation.