Value conflict: the lived experiences of women in treatment for weight loss

My purpose in conducting this phenomenologic study was to describe how women in weight treatment integrated the requirements of their programs into their daily life activities and the meaning they attached to this experience. Feminist theory was used to guide the inquiry and to interpret the findings. The central theme of value conflict was evident in five of the six women interviewed. The value conflict involved the tension between spontaneity and control in the lifestyle patterns of the participants. These women's experiences were characterized by a sense of struggle as they sought to balance the dietary restrictions and exercise requirements of their programs with emergent priorities. A conclusion drawn from the study was that current weight treatment programs have a less than optimal fit with women's values and needs. The importance of developing weight treatment models that promote women's autonomy in evaluating and managing their health is emphasized.