Women pharmacy consumers' experiences with weight loss treatment across Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Background Given the role of pharmacy in weight management is increasing, anecdotally weight loss treatments are consumed by more women than men, and there are some causes of overweight and obesity specific to women, it is important that pharmacists provide evidencebased services that consider women's needs as a basis for a future population based approach. Objectives To determine what weight management options are preferred by women pharmacy consumers, how they feel about pharmacists providing advice in this area, and what they desire in a weight management program. Methods A random sample of women pharmacy consumers were asked to complete a questionnaire in randomly selected pharmacies across Victoria. Questionnaires were self-completed or with assistance from the researcher. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine any significant associations between demographic characteristics and previous weight loss attempts, pharmacy specific outcomes and what women want in their ideal weight management program. Setting Community pharmacies across Victoria, Australia. Main outcome measure The views and opinions of women pharmacy consumers across Victoria regarding pharmacy involvement in weight management and currently available weight management products and/or programs. Results The response rate was high: 86 % (395/460). Approximately 48 % (153/319) of women were in the overweight, obese or severely obese body mass index category (BMI). 71.1 % (281/395) of women had attempted to lose weight in the past. Women in the overweight BMI category were 2.6 times more likely to have attempted to lose weight (95 % CI 1.4, 4.9), and women in the obese BMI category were 10.6 times more likely to have attempted to lose weight (95 % CI 4.1, 27.7) compared to the women with a BMI\25 kg/m2. Approximately 80 % (230/281) of women felt comfortable receiving advice from pharmacists with 42 % (117/281) wanting a pharmacist in their ideal weight management program and 42 % (118/281) wanting their program to be delivered in a pharmacy. Conclusions Women pharmacy consumers used a range of weight management approaches and had mainly positive views about the involvement of pharmacists in their ideal weight management program. © Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij ter bevordering der Pharmacie 2013.