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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 14, No. 2, 99-104 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/101053950201400208
© 2002 Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health

Weight Loss Practices Among Malaysian Adults

Wai-Theng Kong, BPharm

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Siew-Siang Chua, BPharm, PhD

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chua_ss{at}hotmail.com

Syireen Alwi, BSc Pharm, MPharm

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The practice of losing weight is gaining popularity globally with an increase in health consciousness among the general public. A survey was conducted in seven shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur and its neighbouring towns to assess the weight-loss practices of the general public. Out of the 1032 people approached by the researcher, 389 (37.7%) admitted that they had tried to lose weight before. Of these respondents, 50.4% had the wrong perceptions about their weight with 39.1% of the respondents having BMI lower than what they had perceived. The most common weight-loss method used was dieting (89.5%), followed by exercise (81%) and the use of slimming teas (24.9%). Exercise (79.0%) was perceived as the most effective method for losing weight, followed by dieting (71.6%). Most respondents (60.6%) obtained their weight-loss products from the pharmacies but only 34.9% of these respondents had consulted the pharmacists on these products. Therefore, pharmacists should play a more active role in assisting the general public to lose weight successfully and safely. Asia Pac J Public Health 2002; 14(2): 99-104.

Key Words: Weight loss • pharmacist • body mass index • effective • perceptions.


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