Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures
With the increasing number of overweight and obese people, there is a growing public health concern and focus on body size and lifestyle issues, especially in the media. Young adult women comprise a vulnerable group regarding issues of weight balance and appearance. The aim of the study was to exami...
Published in: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being |
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2015
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 https://doaj.org/article/64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 2023-05-15T18:34:42+02:00 Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures Anne-Sofie Sand Nina Emaus Olaug Lian 2015-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 https://doaj.org/article/64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 EN eng Taylor & Francis Group http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/29026/42327 https://doaj.org/toc/1748-2631 1748-2631 doi:10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 https://doaj.org/article/64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being, Vol 10, Iss 0, Pp 1-12 (2015) Body size weight balance lifestyle well-being cultural norms sensitivity qualitative study Medicine (General) R5-920 article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 2022-12-31T10:27:16Z With the increasing number of overweight and obese people, there is a growing public health concern and focus on body size and lifestyle issues, especially in the media. Young adult women comprise a vulnerable group regarding issues of weight balance and appearance. The aim of the study was to examine the experiences of young women on how this focus influences their attitudes concerning weight changes, appearance, and health. We conducted 12 interviews with young women from two different weight groups about the attention on overweight issues. The results from the in-depth interviews were scrutinized through content analyses. The main findings indicate that young women experience a considerable focus on overweight issues with a trend towards appearance rather than health. Overweight and obesity are sensitive topics, and participants expressed strong views on the cultural definitions of normal body size and appearance. The squeeze between cultural norms and young women's perceptions of their own body and health was described as a possible negative factor influencing well-being as well as motivation for lifestyle changes. A more relaxed focus on overweight issues and especially on appearance is necessary when addressing weight-balance issues and lifestyle changes in young adult women. Article in Journal/Newspaper Tromsø Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Tromsø International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 10 1 29026 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Body size weight balance lifestyle well-being cultural norms sensitivity qualitative study Medicine (General) R5-920 |
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Body size weight balance lifestyle well-being cultural norms sensitivity qualitative study Medicine (General) R5-920 Anne-Sofie Sand Nina Emaus Olaug Lian Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
topic_facet |
Body size weight balance lifestyle well-being cultural norms sensitivity qualitative study Medicine (General) R5-920 |
description |
With the increasing number of overweight and obese people, there is a growing public health concern and focus on body size and lifestyle issues, especially in the media. Young adult women comprise a vulnerable group regarding issues of weight balance and appearance. The aim of the study was to examine the experiences of young women on how this focus influences their attitudes concerning weight changes, appearance, and health. We conducted 12 interviews with young women from two different weight groups about the attention on overweight issues. The results from the in-depth interviews were scrutinized through content analyses. The main findings indicate that young women experience a considerable focus on overweight issues with a trend towards appearance rather than health. Overweight and obesity are sensitive topics, and participants expressed strong views on the cultural definitions of normal body size and appearance. The squeeze between cultural norms and young women's perceptions of their own body and health was described as a possible negative factor influencing well-being as well as motivation for lifestyle changes. A more relaxed focus on overweight issues and especially on appearance is necessary when addressing weight-balance issues and lifestyle changes in young adult women. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anne-Sofie Sand Nina Emaus Olaug Lian |
author_facet |
Anne-Sofie Sand Nina Emaus Olaug Lian |
author_sort |
Anne-Sofie Sand |
title |
Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
title_short |
Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
title_full |
Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
title_fullStr |
Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
title_full_unstemmed |
Overweight and obesity in young adult women: A matter of health or appearance? The Tromsø study: Fit futures |
title_sort |
overweight and obesity in young adult women: a matter of health or appearance? the tromsø study: fit futures |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 https://doaj.org/article/64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 |
geographic |
Tromsø |
geographic_facet |
Tromsø |
genre |
Tromsø |
genre_facet |
Tromsø |
op_source |
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being, Vol 10, Iss 0, Pp 1-12 (2015) |
op_relation |
http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/29026/42327 https://doaj.org/toc/1748-2631 1748-2631 doi:10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 https://doaj.org/article/64dab06ecc7a473c8603e0548dc807e0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29026 |
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International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being |
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10 |
container_issue |
1 |
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29026 |
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1766219590088523776 |