PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS OF WEIGHT REDUCTION MEDICATION USE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH OBESITY

Abstract

A correlational cross-sectional research design was conducted to examine the psychosocial factors associated with weight-reduction medication use in individuals with obesity. The study investigated the extent to which body image dissatisfaction, weight self-stigma, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, and social desirability influence the use of weight reduction medications. The sample comprised (N = 120) participants (M = 28.42, SD = 8.68) recruited through purposive sampling from hospitals, weight-management clinics, gyms, and community settings. Participants reported current or previous use of different categories of weight-reduction treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, Orlistat, herbal remedies, and homeopathic medications. Data were collected using standardized measures, including the Body Image Satisfaction Scale (BISS) by Cash and Pruzinsky (2002), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) by Lillis et al. (2010), Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) by Thompson et al. (2004), and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) by Crowne and Marlowe (1960) and Weight Loss Management Questionnaire (Hana et al., 2020).

The findings revealed that greater body image dissatisfaction, self-devaluation, fear of enacted stigma, and family, peer, and media pressure were significantly associated with increased use of weight-reduction medications. Men reported higher body image dissatisfaction, whereas women experienced greater fear of stigma. Urban participants and individuals with higher obesity severity reported greater psychosocial distress and medication use. The findings also revealed that social desirability significantly strengthened the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and weight-reduction medication use, suggesting that individuals concerned with social approval and favorable self-presentation are more likely to adopt medication-based weight-loss strategies when experiencing dissatisfaction with their appearance. Participants from higher-income families were more likely to use weight-reduction medications, whereas those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experienced greater sociocultural pressure and self-devaluation.