Motivational Factors Influencing Weight Loss in Individuals With a History of Obesity in 2025 at Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study explores what motivates people with a history of obesity in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, to lose weight, finding that health improvement is the main driver.

Contribution

The study identifies specific motivational factors for weight loss in a Saudi population and links them to sociodemographic characteristics.

Findings

Improving physical wellness was the top motivation for weight loss among participants.

Sociodemographic factors significantly influence the motivational factors for weight loss.

Physical appearance and self-esteem were also notable motivators, though less common than health improvement.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is defined as an unhealthy accumulation of body fat that increases the risk of chronic diseases. Motivation is essential for weight loss. It can be due to intrinsic factors (e.g., enhanced health) or extrinsic factors (e.g., physical appearance or social approval). The aim of this study was to identify the motivational factors influencing weight loss in individuals with a history of obesity in 2025 at Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted to identify the motivational factors influencing weight loss in individuals with a history of obesity in 2025 at Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A stratified sample involved 367 participants who were obese and lost 5% or more of their weight in the last six months. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), was used to analyze the data, and the chi-squared test was used to correlate the motivational factors with sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: The study included 367 participants: more than half of them were female (219, 59.7%), more than one-quarter (108, 29.4%) were aged between 30 and 40 years, more than half of them (218, 59.4%) had class I obesity, and an additional 149 (40.6%) had class II or III obesity. The mean motivational factors for weight loss among participants were as follows: enhance overall physical wellness (277, 75.5%), promote physical appearance (172, 46.9%), desire to fit into attire (143, 39%), and strengthen self-efficacy and self-image (134, 36.5%). The motivational factors for weight loss are significantly influenced by various sociodemographic characteristics.

Conclusion: This study concluded that obese adults in Al-Ahsa are primarily motivated to improve physical wellness, followed by physical appearance, fitting into attire, and self-esteem. These motivations are significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors. Therefore, focused, simple, and clear educational media campaigns are recommended to explain the benefits of weight loss in the community.

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