Abstract
The study of obesity, and especially the reasons why people may choose to lose weight or succeed in losing weight, is a particularly appropriate area for the application of the facet approach. For although a variety of explanations have been put forward as to the psychological and physiological bases of intentional weight loss, there has been no systematization of these explanations or indication of their relative contributions to actual behavior. Indeed, with regard to the central issue of the motivations people have for losing weight, the published literature is scarce. Furthermore, it is evident that certain assumptions have commonly been made about those trying to lose weight. Many studies have taken various measurements of improvement after weight loss (e.g., self-concept, depression, sociability) but failed to give evidence of how important these factors were to the individual. In other words, they did not ask the individual directly for his or her own reasons for wanting to lose weight.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ashwell, M. A. (1973). A survey investigating patients’ views on doctors’ treatment of obesity. Practitioner, 211, 653 – 658.
Ashwell, M. A. (1978). Commercial weight loss groups. In G. A. Bray (Ed.), recent advances in obesity research II. London: Newman Publishing.
Cahnman, W. J. (1968). The stigma of obesity. Soc. Quart., 9, 283 – 299.
Clifford, E. (1971). Body satisfaction in adolescence. Perceptual Motor Skills, 33, 119– 125.
Craddock, D. (1977). The free diet: 150 cases personally followed up after 10–18 years. International Journal of Obesity, 1, 127.
Dejong, W. (1980). The stigma of obesity: the consequences of naive assumptions concerning the causes of physical deviances. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 21, 75 – 87.
Dublin, L. I. (1953). Relation of obesity to longevity. New England Journal of Medicine, 248, 971 – 974.
Kannel, W. B., Lebauer, E. J., Dawber, T. R, & McNamara, P. M. (1967). Relation of body weight to development of coronary heart disease. The Framingham Study. Circulation, 35, 734.
Katz, E., & Lazarsfeld, P. F. (1955). Personal influence. New York: Free Press.
Kenny, C., & Canter, D. (1981). A facet structure for nurses’ evaluations of ward designs. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 54, 93 – 108.
Koskela, K. (1976). The North Karelia project: a first evaluation. International Journal of Health Education, 19, 56 – 59.
Leon, G. R, & Roth, L. (1977). Obesity: psychological causes, correlations and speculations. Psychology Bulletin, 84, 117 – 139.
McNair, D. M., Lorr, M., & Callahan, D. M. (1963). Patient and therapist influences on quitting psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 27, 10 – 17.
Maccoby, N., & Alexander, J. (1980). Use of media in lifestyle programs. In P. O. Davidson and S. M. Davidson (Eds.), Behavioural medicine. New York: Bruner- Mazel.
Maddox, G. L., and Liederman, V. R. (1968). Overweight as a social disability with medical implications. Jo urnal of Medical Education, 44, 214 – 220.
Matthews, A. M., Johnston, D. W., Shaw, P. M., & Gelder, M. G. (1974). Process variables and the prediction of outcome in behaviour therapy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 125, 256 – 264.
Metropolitan Life Assurance Company (New York). (1959). New weight standards for men and women. Statistical Bulletin, 40, Nov–Dec.
Roe, D. A., & Eckwort, K. R. (1976). Relationships between obesity and associated health factors with unemployment among low income women. Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, 31, 193–204
Roe, D. A., & Eckwort, K. R. (1976). Relationships between obesity and associated health factors with unemployment among low income women. Journal of the American Medical Womens’s Association, 31, 193 – 204.
Silverstone, J. T. (1975). Obesity: Its pathogenesis and management. Lancaster: Medical and Technical Publishing Co.
Staffieri, J. R. (1972). Body build and behavioural expectancies in young females. Developmental Psychology, 6, 125 – 127.
Vebrugge, L. M. (1978). Peers as recruiters: family planning communications of W. Malaysian acceptors. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 51 – 68.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gough, G. (1985). Reasons for Slimming and Weight Loss. In: Canter, D. (eds) Facet Theory. Springer Series in Social Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5042-5_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5042-5_10
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9537-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5042-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive