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The decision to lose weight

P J Brink1, K Ferguson

  • 1Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada.

Western Journal of Nursing Research
|February 25, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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.

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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).

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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.