Weight management is an ongoing struggle for most women. Social support has been identified as an important factor in the promotion of positive behavior change. Objective: This study examined the influence of social support in two groups of women. Design: Focus group interviews. Sample: Women at university worksite. Methods: 2 hour, audio-taped interviews were held with two groups of women. Findings: The themes of stages of change, empowerment, and quality of social support predominated. Both groups expressed similar reasons for concern about weight, and shared many common experiences. However the two groups expressed very different outcomes from the social support they identified. One group (n=9) with ongoing difficulty with weight loss (“contemplators”) described social support experiences that diminished their empowerment and fostered a comfortable status quo. In contrast, the successful (“action”) group (n=7) facilitated a positive, therapeutic environment using the Weight Watchers model. They readily described key factors that facilitated their weight loss. Conclusions: This study concludes that weight loss is an ongoing challenge for most women. However, fostering a positive social support network can result in achievable outcomes. Implications: Findings from this study highlight the variety of characteristics, quality, and outcomes of social support experienced by a cohort of overweight women.
Back to Posters
Back to The Advancing Nursing Practice Excellence: State of the Science