Abstract Body: Introduction: Weight control is crucial for young and middle-aged adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Enhanced MetS knowledge, increased self-efficacy, and the adoption of health-promoting lifestyles may contribute to a reduction in body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, limited research exists on the relationship between these variables among this clinical cohort. This study aimed to identify the latent profiles of knowledge and self-efficacy and to investigate the relationship among these profiles, health-promoting lifestyles, and BMI among young and middle-aged adults with MetS.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 335 adults with MetS. Data on MetS knowledge, self-efficacy, health-promoting lifestyles, BMI, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Latent profile analysis was performed to identify the profiles of knowledge and self-efficacy in this population, and mediation analysis was employed to examine the potential mediating pathways linking study variables.
Results: Three latent profiles of knowledge and self-efficacy were identified: low (17.3%), moderate (56.4%), and high (26.3%). Mediation analysis demonstrated that compared to the low profile of knowledge and self-efficacy, dietary behaviors fully statistically mediated the relationship between the high profile and BMI (β=-0.167), as well as the moderate profile and BMI (β=-0.095).
Conclusions: Improving MetS knowledge and self-efficacy has the potential to enhance dietary behaviors, ultimately contributing to a decrease in BMI among young and middle-aged adults with MetS.