RESTRUCTURING: A GROUNDED THEORY OF THE TRANSFORMATION FROM OVERWEIGHT TO NORMAL WEIGHT.
Contributors: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 230
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Clinical.
Description: The purpose of this dissertation was to generate substantive theory on the process of losing weight. A qualitative research design (grounded theory) was used to analyze the experiences of dieters attending a weight loss program. Two-hundred hours of observations at two weight reduction centers, a review of selected documents from the organization and multiple in-depth interviews with 13 informants were the data sources for this study. Data generation took place over a 21 month period.

A substantive theory of restructuring identified three stages in the process of losing weight: (1) Gaining a Sense of Control: describes the need of the overweight person to be in charge of food; (2) Changing Perspective: reflects the alteration in attitude and outlook of the dieters as they work through the process of losing weight; and (3) Integrating New Identity and/or Way of Life: describes the assimilation of newly acquired meanings, values and behaviors with preexisting ones. Each of these stages includes substages with key issues marking the dieters movement through the process. A conceptual model of the transformation is presented.

The role of the licensed professional and lay counsellor was also analyzed. Six processes that exemplify the "caring counsellor" were identified by dieters as important in facilitating their progress through the program: being with, being there, knowing, instilling faith and hope, accepting the person, and problem solving. Informants reported these processes present in both of the counsellors. Through observation of the client-counsellor interactions it was shown that a different level of caring was possible based on professional knowledge.

The significance of the study for nursing is that it: (1) sensitizes nurses and other health professionals to the weight loss process; (2) provides a conceptual model which can guide the assessment of the overweight person; and (3) identifies a substantive theory on the weight loss process which, through further study, could be raised to a formal theory on transformation or change.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-09, Section: B, page: 2604.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1987.

School code: 0831.