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:: Volume 36, Issue 3 (Fall 2026) ::
MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026, 36(3): 321-333 Back to browse issues page
The effect of weight loss due to a low-calorie diet on the quality of life and self-esteem of overweight or obese Iranian women: a quasi-experimental intervention study
Farnaz Shishehgar *
Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , shishehgarf@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (219 Views)
Background: Obesity is a health and medical issue in societies that endangers physical and mental health. The objective of the present study was to examine the impact of a 16-week low-calorie diet on the quality of life and self-esteem of obese or overweight women. The present study hypothesizes that a reduction in body mass will result in an enhancement in the mean score of quality of life and self-esteem.
Materials and methods: It was a quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test design for 16 weeks. 116 overweight or obese women were prescribed a low-calorie diet. Anthropometric assessments, dietary intake (using a 24-hour food recall), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form, the Persian version of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire were assessed at baseline and 16 weeks after the intervention.
Results: The percentage of weight loss in comparison to the initial weight was 7 ± 3.62%. Following the intervention, a significant increase was observed in the scores of the physical domains of quality of life, Physical Health Summary Scale (PCS), and Vitality (VT) (P<0.001). A weight reduction of 5% or more was found to be associated with a significant change in the mean score of self-esteem and the physical domains of quality of life (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that moderate weight loss can significantly improve the quality of life and self-esteem of obese women, even if they do not achieve their ideal weight. Therefore, interventions should emphasize the importance of maintaining lifestyle changes.
 
Keywords: Obesity, Quality of life, Self-esteem, Low-calorie diet.
Full-Text [PDF 858 kb]   (99 Downloads)    
Semi-pilot: Quazi-Experimental | Subject: Midwifery
Received: 2025/09/22 | Accepted: 2025/12/28 | Published: 2026/09/1
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Shishehgar F. The effect of weight loss due to a low-calorie diet on the quality of life and self-esteem of overweight or obese Iranian women: a quasi-experimental intervention study. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026; 36 (3) :321-333
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Volume 36, Issue 3 (Fall 2026) Back to browse issues page
فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد پزشکی تهران Medical Science Journal of Islamic Azad Univesity - Tehran Medical Branch
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