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The decision to lose weight
1Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada.
Western Journal of Nursing Research
|February 25, 1998
Summary
People seeking weight loss are motivated by appearance and health, with men and women sharing similar reasons. Understanding the "centrality" of a decision may explain sustained weight loss success.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Health Behavior
Background:
- Weight loss is a common goal, influenced by various personal and societal factors.
- Understanding motivations is crucial for developing effective weight management strategies.
- Previous research has explored weight loss reasons, but comparisons across weight history and gender require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare the reasons individuals cite for initiating weight loss.
- To analyze these reasons based on participants' weight history and gender.
Main Methods:
- Utilized qualitative content analysis of extensive open-ended interviews.
- Sample comprised 162 Caucasian community volunteers.
- Categorized participants into weight loss success groups (Successful, Always Normal Weight, Underweight, Clinically Successful, Always Obese/Unsuccessful Dieter).
Main Results:
- Key motivations for weight loss included attractiveness, health, fear, self-esteem, age, and competition.
- Attractiveness and health were primary drivers for Successful Dieters.
- No significant gender differences were found in stated motivations for weight loss.
Conclusions:
- Attractiveness and health are significant motivators for successful weight loss.
- While motivations are shared across genders, the underlying reasons for sustained weight loss remain unclear.
- The concept of decision 'centrality' is proposed as a potential factor influencing long-term weight loss maintenance.