Application of Health Belief Model: demographic factors affecting body mass index (BMI) and perceptions of weight management among Malaysians

The previous studies underlined the need for specified educational intervention programs to prevent overweight and obesity problems among Malaysians. Therefore, in this context, this study aimed to explore the demographic factors that are associated with BMI and perceptions of body weight management among Malaysians by utilizing the Health Belief Model (HBM). The findings of the study will help in developing effective interventions and provide more specific recommendations on weight management in health education programs to ensure the well-being of the people. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted to study the demographical factors and perception of body weight management by the self-administered Health Belief Model Questionnaire (HBMQ). The data were collected using the HBMQ via Google Form link which was promoted on social media platforms to reach out to the public from all over the 13 states in Malaysia. Out of 440 respondents, 44 (10.0%) were obese, 92 (20.90%) were overweight, 60 (13.60%) were underweight and 244 (55.50%) had normal weight. Significant associations were observed between body mass index (BMI) and demographic characteristics such as age range, gender, education level, marital status, employment status, intention to reduce weight, and health issues (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between HBM subscales and different demographic characteristics. The regression model explained ~8.3% of the variance in BMI (P < 0.001) and revealed that perceived severity and behavioural intention were the significant variables to predict a person’s BMI. The findings in this study conclude that Malaysians with different demographic characteristics have different perceptions on obesity and weight reduction behaviours.