protective factors

Objective: Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic, and progressive disease that has become a crucial public health problem worldwide. Therefore, it seems necessary to identify risk and protective factors to prevent obesity and treat obesity. This study aims to identify the risk and protective factors of obesity in women. Method: The study was descriptive-correlational. The research sample consisted of 429 overweight and obese women, selected through voluntary sampling. To collect data, a physical activity questionnaire, core beliefs of eating questionnaire, self-criticism questionnaire, shame and guilt scale, self-esteem scale, body image concern questionnaire, stress-anxiety-depression questionnaire, and weight self-efficacy questionnaire were used. The obtained data were analyzed using stepwise regression using SPSS 24. Results: The findings showed that among obesity risk factors (core beliefs of eating, self-criticism, shame and guilt, concern about body image, stress-anxiety-depression), the core beliefs of eating, stress, and depression can predict obesity. Also, the research results showed that among obesity protective factors (weight self-efficacy, self-esteem, and physical activity), weight self-efficacy can predict obesity improvement more than other variables. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, we can say that the variables of core beliefs about eating, stress, and depression as risk factors and the variable of self-efficacy as a protective factor can predict body mass index.