TY - JOUR
T1 - Do health beliefs and behaviors differ according to severity of obesity? A qualitative study of Australian adults
AU - Lewis, Sophie
AU - Thomas, Samantha
AU - Blood, Warwick
AU - Hyde, Jim
AU - Castle, David
AU - Komesaroff, Paul
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Public responses to obesity have focused on providing standardized messages and supports to all obese individuals, but there is a limited understanding of the impact of these messages on obese adults. This descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews and a thematic analysis, compares the health beliefs and behaviors of 141 Australian adults with mild to moderate (BMI 30-39.9) and severe (BMI > 40) obesity. Mildy obese individuals felt little need to change their health behaviors or to lose weight for health reasons. Most believed they could 'lose weighht' if they needed to, distanced themselves from the word obesity, and stigmatized those 'fatter' than themselves. Severely obese individuals felt an urgent need to change their health behaviors, but felt powerless to do so. They blamed themselves for their weight, used stereotypical language to describe their health behaviors, and described being 'at war' with their bodies. Further reseach, particularly about the role of stigma and sterotyping, is needed to fully understand the impact of obesity messaging on health beliefs, behaviors, and wellbeing of obese and severly obese adults.
AB - Public responses to obesity have focused on providing standardized messages and supports to all obese individuals, but there is a limited understanding of the impact of these messages on obese adults. This descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews and a thematic analysis, compares the health beliefs and behaviors of 141 Australian adults with mild to moderate (BMI 30-39.9) and severe (BMI > 40) obesity. Mildy obese individuals felt little need to change their health behaviors or to lose weight for health reasons. Most believed they could 'lose weighht' if they needed to, distanced themselves from the word obesity, and stigmatized those 'fatter' than themselves. Severely obese individuals felt an urgent need to change their health behaviors, but felt powerless to do so. They blamed themselves for their weight, used stereotypical language to describe their health behaviors, and described being 'at war' with their bodies. Further reseach, particularly about the role of stigma and sterotyping, is needed to fully understand the impact of obesity messaging on health beliefs, behaviors, and wellbeing of obese and severly obese adults.
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph7020443
DO - 10.3390/ijerph7020443
M3 - Article
SN - 1660-4601
VL - 7
SP - 443
EP - 459
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ER -
