The areas of dieting and obesity are quite complex, touching upon physiological, psychological and social issues. Social work is ideally suited as a profession to address these issues. It recognizes the need to deal with the multifaceted aspects of a problem and utilizes a framework that questions issues from both a private and public perspective. Social work looks at the person in environment and at the societal structures that create and maintain meanings of personal value based on appearance. Weight preoccupation occurs predominantly among women and is independent of actual body size or shape.
Most diets fail in achieving effective weight loss or maintenance.
I believe there is a need for those who struggle with the issues of weight preoccupation to be educated, supported, and given an opportunity to explore its impact in a safe environment. The Beyond Dieting program was developed as a psychoeducational group experience in order to meet these needs. It was hoped that through increased awareness and discussion, members would come to terms with their own dieting and weight preoccupation issues. I believe that a psychoeducational group model for the treatment of this population was an ideal method for developing knowledge, awareness and resolution to these issues. The experiences of one group of adult women who underwent 10 sessions of the psychoeducational group called Beyond Dieting.