Can Nutritional Status in Adults Be Influenced by Health Locus of Control?

Wojciech Gruszka (), Aleksander J. Owczarek, Mateusz Glinianowicz, Monika Bąk-Sosnowska, Jerzy Chudek and Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
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Wojciech Gruszka: Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Aleksander J. Owczarek: Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Mateusz Glinianowicz: Department of Psychology, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Monika Bąk-Sosnowska: Department of Psychology, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Jerzy Chudek: Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz: Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: The external health locus of control (HLC) is based on an assumption that obtained health results depend on the influences of external factors. As for the internal HLC—that is the effect of our own actions and capabilities. Little is known regarding how the HLC can influence body weight or the occurrence of visceral obesity. The study aimed to assess the relationship between the health locus of control and nutritional status in adults. The study included 744 adults (452 women, 292 men; 2.8% underweight, 43.8% normal weight, 29.7% overweight, and 23.7% obese). In addition to anthropometric measurement and socio-demographic data, the health locus of control, using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) by Wallston K, Wallston B, and DeVellis R, was assessed. The percentage of subjects with an internal HLC did not differ significantly between obese, overweight, and normal-weight groups. However, the percentage of subjects with an external HLC—dependent on the impact of others—was significantly higher in both men and women with obesity than in corresponding overweight and normal-weight groups ( p < 0.01). Yet, the percentage of subjects with an external HLC subject to the impact of chance was significantly higher among overweight and obese women than in those of normal weight ( p < 0.05) only. Women with overweight or obesity, with external health locus of control, experienced both the impact of others and of chance more often than women with normal weight. However, men with overweight and with obesity more often had external health locus of control influenced only by others.

Keywords: nutritional status; body weight; visceral obesity; health locus of control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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