Obesity refers to a condition whereby a person has accumulated so much body weight that it might present adverse effects on their health. According to scientists and medics, a person is considered obese if his or her body weight is at least 20% more than it ought to be. If an individual’s body mass index(BMI) ranges between 25 to 29.9, he/she is considered to be overweight. Contemporary physicians have raised concerns about a growing increase in the number of individuals especially women in Canada suffering from obesity. In the recent years, there has been increased attempts by health experts North America to combat obesity in the region. To enlighten people on the various health hazards presented by obesity, Centre for Disease Control has over the recent years exhorted on Americans to desist from consuming junk food and adopt healthier foods. This led to the organisation declaring fat fatal. Canadian Medical Association, on the other hand, has termed obesity as a costly pandemic and an expanding threat in the region. Hopeful narrative, typifying orientations to weight loss and personal experiences of Canadian women dealing with obesity are discussed in the paper.
Research Sample and Demographic Make-up
Getting people to participate in research can be a daunting and challenging task. To get people to take part in the study, the researchers posted posters and mailed various women requesting them to take part in the study. The mailing list targeted healthcare personnel while posters were conspicuously placed at multiple locations such as campuses, clinics, and healthcare fitness centres. The two methods were employed since they are efficient, convenient and can reach a large number of individuals. The sample was majorly composed of white women. A listserv was used to recruit numerous healthcare affiliated employees such as accountants, frontline healthcare providers and receptionists. Healthcare affiliated personnel were incorporated in the sample due to the fact they are more enlightened on the health risks associated with being overweight. The ages of the interviewees ranged between 30-50 years. Their mean age was 45, median age 49 and modal age 54 years. Furthermore, one of the participants was registered as disabled. The participants were from diverse socio-economic backgrounds diverging views on weight loss.
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Core Themes Uncovered in The Study
The core themes uncovered in the study include the apparent desire by women to embody a thinner future and quality life, various health hazards associated with weight intentionally weight loss. Another broad, broad theme emphasised on during the research include the resignation of obese women to accept their fate that they are indeed obese despite the stigmas they face on a daily basis. The study reveals that overweight women are subjected to more stigmas compared to their male counterparts since a large proportion of the population is used to objectify women. The article also explores various hurdles that obese women undergo in their attempts to shed off weight.
Elimination Criteria
The study primarily focused on individuals who identified themselves as obese, their perceptions, experiences over a given period and various weight trajectories were taken into account. Initially, the sample was composed of thirteen women. In a bid to obtain reliable results and avoid bias, the researcher categorised the women into two groups. Andrea, one of the lead researchers, was particularly interested in getting the opinions of individuals categorised as obese according to Body Mass Index. Those who had been classified as overweight in the past were also interviewed. The scientists were fascinated by the fact that only two of the women had lost a significant amount of body weight in the past.
Personal Experiences of the Participants.
Megan, one of the participants, told a story that was not only captivating but also projected a lot of positivity and energy. In her early fifties, she attributed weight regain to her inability to control her behaviour. She also blamed her weight regain to a car accident she was involved in that hindered her ability to exercise. (Monaghan, 2016, p. 931) In an attempt to lose weight, she joined a commercial weight loss group that regularly monitored their member's calories and ensured they took part in exercises. Five months into joining the team, she felt confident that she would succeed in her pursuit of a slimmer body. Despite the fact that her health was good, she was worried of developing weight-related diseases. Just like her fellow participants, she believed that weight loss precludes physical decline associated with ageing. Since joining the group, she felt in control of her body weight. Although she had initially faced a lot of stigmas and even lost her self- esteem, taking part in the study helped Amelia accept and appreciate herself more (Monogham, 2016, p. 932). She linked her enhanced self- regard to changes in her physical appearance, height, and body size. The two women each narrated a story of how overweight women struggle not only to lose weight but also to gain acceptance and admiration from the general public.
Orientation to Weight Loss
There exist three significant orientations to weight loss namely weight cycling or stagnation, hopeful narratives, and disordered eating distress. Disordered eating distress is a person’s resistance to weight loss and following attempts by an obese person to restrict his or her dietary intake to lose weight (Bombak, 2017). Previous experiences of extreme restriction are believed to result in poor health and weight gain. Hopeful narratives, on the other hand, suggest attempts to shed off weight or maintain weight loss in the belief that so doing will lead to much slimmer body and better-quality life. Additionally, hopeful narratives are primarily expressed by women who though still obese, are categorised as weight stable by health experts. Lastly, weight stagnation implies a bleak future due to constant weight cycling, chronicity of being overweight or an increase in weight.
Stagnation and Weight Cycling
A large percentage of the participants admitted that their attempts to lose weight resulted in significant weight gain despite putting more efforts and sacrificing a great deal of time. They, therefore, believed that the sudden increase or decrease in body weight did their bodies more harm than good. This impacted negatively on their self-esteem and led to stigmatisation. The continued pattern of weight cycling, stagnation and gain were associated with participants eating habits pattern. In the contemporary world, weight fluctuations have become commonplace, and scientists believe this presents a significant obstacle to overweight people interested in weight loss. Most women, therefore, feel responsible increase for a drastic increase in their body weights. Hannah, a healthcare provider, admitted that her body weight impacted on her daily activities thus making her less mobile. She attributed her condition to inactivity and lack of regular exercise. She lived a sedentary lifestyle where she drove to work and used lifts instead of stairs. Although the participants said they were still committed to losing weight, lack of motivation prevented them from signing into weight loss programs. Just like Hannah who attracted negative criticism from her friends and relatives, Katerina felt unwanted because she was critically obese. She had lost and gained nearly 100 pounds in twelve months. She felt that to exercise daily; she had to undergo an obesity treatment program which is not only expensive but also inaccessible.
Hopeful Narrative Summary
Hopeful narratives are expressed in women who although still obese, are considered to be weight stable. This category instead of sitting down and showing self-pity on themselves, do everything entirely possible to shed off weight and maintain slimmer and healthier bodies. One participant, Harmony, refuses to give up her pursuit of leaner and a more comfortable body since she was once overweight thus is aware of the repercussions. Hope is expressed regarding how a participant plans to maintain a slim body and avoid succumbing into obesity once more. Irrespective of their weights, through hope, women troubled with weight loss felt they were more in control of they were more in control of their lives. Besides embracing exercises, such women try to adopt healthier diets since they see this as the only leeway to staying slim. To maintain a leaner, healthier and more mobile future, it is prudent to follow self- monitoring routines. For one to fully understand health narratives, they have to recognise and acknowledge past experiences of obese individuals and their struggles to shed off weight. Although the primary reason for losing weight among many of the women such as Rachael was to gain admiration and acceptance, this turned to a big disillusionment. They remained lonely and unhappy even after shedding many pounds.
Disordered Eating Distress Summary
According to many participants, the obsession to lose weight can lead to disordered eating. Typically, eating disorders support or make more certain attempts by an individual to accept his/her size. Talks on disordered eating distress brought most of the participants to the realisation that they had leaner bodies in the past and losing weight was never a precaution to lifestyle diseases. Losing more body weight presents more health hazards than benefits associated with weight loss. Moreover, restricting oneself, to a particular diet is hazardous.
Verdict on the Article
The article on obesity and bodily changes is not only captivating but also educating. In a world where millions are troubled by obesity, it is indeed noble to enlighten people on dangers presented by obesity by including personal experiences of those dealing with weight issues. Giving the stories was well thought as it educates the masses on how an individual develops obesity and what ought to be done so as not become obese. Unlike other articles that only emphasises on lashing out on overweight women and stressing to people how obesity is costing the country economically, the article gives hope to those trying to shed off weight. I would urge everyone to get acquainted with the article since it offers what other health experts have been missing out on.
Weight loss has become a significant concern in the contemporary world. According to available data, 30% of the world's population is overweight, this approximately two billion person. To combat obesity, healthcare providers should develop a system whereby obese individual are monitored continuously and encouraged to take part in exercises to lose weight. From the article, it is evident that most of the women are more worried about the stigma associated with obesity than the condition itself. By adopting a healthy lifestyle such as living a more active social life, obesity can become a thing of the past.
References
Bombak, A. E. (2017). Obesity, Bodily Change and Health Identities; A Qualitative Study of Canadian Women. Foundation for Sociology of Health Sciences , 929-932.
Monaghan, A. E. (2016). Obesity, physical change . Foundation for Sociology of Health and illness , 931-932.
