Need states based on eating occasions experienced by midlife women

To identify a comprehensive set of distinct "need states" based on the eating occasions experienced by midlife women.

Series of 7 focus group interviews.

Meeting room on a university campus.

A convenience sample of 34 multi-ethnic women (mean age = 46 years).

Descriptions of eating occasions by "need states," specific patterns of needs for the occasion.

Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for common themes using qualitative data analysis procedures.

Eight need states suggested a hypothetical framework reflecting a wide range in emotional gratification. Need states with a low level of emotional gratification were dominated by sets of functional needs, such as coping with stress, balancing intake across occasions, meeting external demands of time and effort, and maintaining a routine. Food was a means for reinforcing family identity, social expression, and celebration in need states with high levels of emotional gratification. Occurrence of need states varied by day and meal/snack occasion, with food type and amount dependent on need state.

Eating occasions are driven by specific sets of needs ranging from physical/functional to more emotional/social needs. Addressing need states may improve weight intervention programs for midlife women.