SPONTANEOUS SELF-CONCEPT IN A SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS-A PLURALIST QUALITATIVE STUDY

Résumé 0

"Obesity implies risks for physical and psychological health, impacting negatively on self - esteem. As an improvement strategy, weight loss often has an impact not only on body image but also on others domains of self - concept. Despite the extensive research on physical self - concept, the exploration of others self - concept’s domains concerning a weight loss is scarce. This study aims to explore the spontaneous self - concept of a successful we ight loss. Thirty men and women who achieved a successful weight loss (loss at least 7% of the initial weight and made a minimum maintenance of 12 months) were interviewed. The in - depth audio - recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed through conten t and thematic analysis (pluralistic analysis with inductive and deductive approaches), by a jury of psychologists. A quantitative exploration of the association between the emergent categories was made through a multiple correspondence analysis. An inter - rater agreement (Cohen’s k) was substantial (.734). Self - concept established a three - factor model: 1) Effective investment/Balanced self - esteem, 2) Ambivalent, and 3) Positive acceptance/Focused, entailed domains such as self - esteem, physical, social, and explicit personality self - concept. The qualitative exploration of self - concept on a weight loss context contributes to engrossing the current literature. Emphasising that not only physical but also psychological aspects may be impacted in a successful weig ht loss process, this study highlights that negative self - representations must be attended in a clinical interventions’ context."