Preffered methods of treating obesity in late adulthood and senior age

Abstract

Objective: To identify preferred solutions - therapy - for overweight and obesity in older adults and seniors Participants: A total of 110 respondents were contacted, out of which 14 refused to cooperate or filled in the questionnaire incorrectly. The return of questionnaires was 96, i.e. 100%. The group of respondents consisted of individuals of both sexes, aged 50 and over, living in a natural social environment or in one of the selected institutions. Due to the fact that - in our opinion - a relatively large amount of attention is paid to the senior age group while the group of people in the age range of 50-64 is forgotten, we have not chosen the senior age respondents exclusively. Methods: The data obtained by the processing of the questionnaires were analytically evaluated. For statistical processing a program StatisticaCz version 9 was chosen, a descriptive analysis of the data was performed, followed by analysis by comparing averages and particular tests of statistical significance (Chi-square test, Kruskal Wallis, KendalovoTau). Results: An adjustment of the diet as a part of the solution of the overweight and obesity therapy would be chosen by the most respondents, 75 (46.5%) of them. 44 (27.0%) respondents would choose sport or other physical activity. 11 (6.7%) respondents would deal with overweight and obesity pharmacologically -with the help of medications, and only 25 (15.3%) respondents would choose surgery as a way of dealing with overweight and obesity. On the contrary, only 8 (4.9%) respondents were not interested in dealing with the weight gain. 24 (25.0%) respondents would choose the surgical way of solving obesity. Ananswer "possibly yes" was chosen by 13 (13.5%) respondents. 21 (21.9%) individuals inclined to the "rather not" variant. 33 (34.4%) respondents chose the "certainly not" answer. An answer "I don't know" was chosen by 5 (5.2%) respondents. Conclusion: Obesity is a global social problem which is not to be solved just in healthcare and it is certainly not an issue of an individual.