Assessment of Weight Management Practices among Adults in the United Arab Emirates

Table 3

Significant associations between sociodemographic variables (sex, marital status, and nationality) and weight management practices among UAE adults (Chi-square test).

Weight management practice	Total	Males	Females	value
	(%)	(%)	(%)
Increasing physical activity
Yes	596 (52.9)	269 (57.5)	327 (49.7)	0.011
No	530 (47.1)	199 (42.5)	331 (50.3)
Consuming fewer calories
Yes	488 (43.3)	179 (38.2)	309 (47.0)	0.004
No	638 (56.7)	289 (61.8)	349 (53.0)
Joining gym
Yes	310 (27.5)	163 (34.8)	147 (22.3)	<0.001
No	816 (72.5)	305 (65.2)	511 (77.7)
Skipping meals
Yes	294 (26.1)	106 (22.6)	188 (28.6)	0.028
No	832 (73.9)	362 (77.4)	470 (71.4)
Taking natural herbs and teas
Yes	233 (20.7)	80 (17.1)	153 (23.3)	0.014
No	893 (79.3)	388 (82.9)	505 (76.7)
Visiting a dietitian
Yes	138 (12.3)	45 (9.6)	93 (14.1)	0.027
No	988 (87.7)	423 (90.4)	565 (85.9)
Joining wellness centre
Yes	105 (9.3)	55 (11.8)	50 (7.6)	0.022
No	1021 (90.7)	413 (88.2)	608 (92.4)
Counting calories
Yes	70 (6.2)	16 (3.4)	54 (8.2)	0.001
No	1056 (93.8)	452 (96.6)	604 (91.8)
Weight management practice	Total	Single	Married	value
	(%)	(%)	(%)
Eating less fat
Yes	575 (51.1)	250 (47.3)	325 (54.3)	0.020
No	551 (48.9)	278 (52.7)	273 (45.7)
Consuming more calories
Yes	53 (4.7)	32 (6.1)	21 (3.5)	0.049
No	1073 (95.3)	496 (93.9)	577 (96.5)
Joining gym
Yes	310 (27.5)	176 (33.3)	134 (22.4)	<0.001
No	816 (72.5)	352 (66.7)	464 (77.6)
Counting calories
Yes	70 (6.2)	54 (10.2)	16 (2.7)	<0.001
No	1056 (93.8)	474 (89.8)	582 (97.3)
Replacement meals
Yes	76 (6.7)	47 (8.9)	29 (4.8)	0.009
No	1050 (93.3)	481 (91.1)	569 (95.2)
Weight management practice	Total	UAE National	Non-UAE National	value
	(%)	(%)	(%)
Visiting a dietitian
Yes	138 (12.3)	31 (17.3)	107 (11.3)	0.034
No	988 (87.7)	148 (82.7)	840 (88.7)
Counting calories
Yes	70 (6.2)	2 (1.1)	68 (7.2)	0.001
No	1056 (93.8)	177 (98.9)	879 (92.8)