ABSTRACT
Background: Weight loss is an important health issue for overweight girls. Understanding their subjective feelings and experiences regarding weight loss may help healthcare professionals and hospitals develop an appropriate intervention for this population. However, there have been few studies done on the subjective weight loss experiences of overweight adolescent girls.
Purpose: This study developed a descriptive theory framework to elicit the weight loss experiences of overweight adolescent girls in Taiwan.
Methods: This qualitative study used grounded theory to conduct in-depth interviews with 20 overweight adolescent girls aged 16-20 years. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method.
Results: "Struggle against fat" was the core theme that described and guided the process of weight loss for participants. During this process, "obesity as a stigma" was identified as the antecedent condition with the subcategories: being teased, being blamed, being bullied, and lack of personal attractiveness. Participants struggled to practice a new lifestyle while continuing their previous lifestyle during the weight loss process. This process was categorized as "trying dieting shortcuts," "self-sabotage," "confronting weakness," and "adhere to a new life." During this process, some participants adhered to a new life by perceiving peer/family support, using incentive slogans, and sharing experiences. Finally, participants either continued to maintain their new lifestyle and gradually lost weight or resumed their previous lifestyle and regained weight by entering into a vicious cycle of combating fat through dieting shortcuts while practicing self-sabotage.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Weight loss is a difficult issue for most overweight and obese adolescent girls. Health providers should better understand adolescent psychology to provide this population with effective incentives to modify their lifestyles for health purposes. It is crucial that healthcare providers be good coaches to guide and positively support these girls in their struggle against fat.