The Experiences of Body-Weight Maintenance on Weight-loss Women

• Main Authors: Shu-ChuanSun, 孫淑娟
• Other Authors: Chi-Jen Wang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75400730290879492795

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 護理學系碩博士班 === 99 === The majority of participants in a planned weight loss program during the past several years were females. The issue of long term weight loss maintenance has proven to be a challenge for these women. Qualitative research was applied to explore the experiences of women in their attempt to maintain body-weight loss for one to two years after completing a weight loss program. Nine participants who were married and living with their families were recruited due to they were the main caregiver in the family from a community health center. All of the participants had to complete an eight week program designed for achieving successful weight loss. They were invited to participate in this study after their informed consent was received. Data were collected by deep interviews and tape recordings. Content analysis was adopted to analyze the context of the text records. The findings indicated that those who were successful in maintaining weight loss had engaged in regular physical activities and adopted more strategies for diet control, such as measuring intake amount, using self-monitoring and obtaining new information for diet control. However, the key factors for those failing to maintain weight loss included: social life, changes of family life, traditional customs and celebrations, deteriorated health status, more chances to eat and/or reduced regular physical activity time. Those who enjoyed weight loss maintenance received much more support from their family; for those who failed to maintain weight loss, their families did not support their efforts. We expect that these findings can help community health professionals to design weight control program with diet tips to aid participants to cope with daily life influences on diet control. Moreover, it is better to invite the family to participate in the educational program; this will help women with long term weight loss maintenance.