Declaration _____________________________________________________ Copyright Statement __________________________________________ Acknowledgements ____________________________________________ List of Acronyms _______________________________________________ Introduction ___________________________________________________ Chapter One-Literature review_______________________________ 1.11 Gap in knowledge ____________________________________________ 1.11.1 Research questions ________________________________________________ Chapter Two-Methodology ____________________________________ 2.1 Section Outline _________________________________________________ 2.2 Philosophical and methodological approach employed _____ 2.3 Positivism, Relativism and critical realism __________________ 2.3.1 Critical realism______________________________________________________ 2.3.2 Research design within a critical realist framework __________________ 2.4 Qualitative vs. quantitative research ________________________ 2.5 Case study methodology ______________________________________ 2.6 Issues of reliability and validity ______________________________ 2.6.1 Reliability ___________________________________________________________ 2.6.2 Validity _____________________________________________________________ 2.6.2.1 Triangulation ___________________________________________________ 2.6.2.2 Respondent validation __________________________________________ 2.6.2.3 Reflexivity ______________________________________________________ 2.7 Axiology ________________________________________________________ 2.8 Research questions and chosen method of enquiry ________ 2.9 Ethical considerations in this research ______________________ 2.9.1 Informed consent ___________________________________________________ 2.9.2 Anonymity __________________________________________________________ 2.9.3 Right to withdraw ___________________________________________________ 2.9.4 Debriefing __________________________________________________________ 2.9.5 Access to research findings _________________________________________ 2.9.6 Other ethical considerations ________________________________________ 2.10 Chronology ____________________________________________________ 2.11 Research methods ____________________________________________ 2.11.1 Focus groups ______________________________________________________ 2.11.1.1 Characteristics of Focus groups with children __________________ 2.11.1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups ________________ 2.11.2 Interviews _________________________________________________________ 2.11.2.1 Advantages and disadvantages of interviews __________________ 2.11.2.2 Interviewer skills ______________________________________________ 2.12 Data Analysis _________________________________________________ 2.12.1 Thematic analysis _________________________________________________ 2.12.2 Thematic networks _______________________________________________ 2.12.3 Conducting thematic analysis _____________________________________ 2.13 Triangulation ___________...

The purpose of this article is to describe the reasons people give for deciding to lose weight compared by weight history and gender. The sample consisted of 162 Caucasian community volunteers. Data were obtained from an extensive open-ended interview that was analyzed using content analysis. Respondents were categorized into five groups, according to their success at weight loss: Successful, Always Normal Weight, Underweight, Clinically Successful, and Always Obese. The Clinically Successful and Always Obese were included in the category Unsuccessful Dieter. Reasons given for entering a weight-loss regime included attractiveness or appearance, health, fear, self-esteem issues, age, and competition. For the Successful Dieter, attractiveness and health were the two major motivations. Men and women were similar in their reasons for entering a weight-loss program. The issue of what makes a decision of sufficient importance to maintain weight loss remains unexplained. "Centrality" is offered as a possible explanation.

No abstract

No abstract

Childhood memories about food appear to contribute to differences among the obese, the always-normal-weight, and the successful dieter. Further research into this area of investigation is warranted.