Obesity, bodily change and health identities

A qualitative study of Canadian women

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2249239
AutoresAndrea E Bombak (0000-0002-4235-9025, Division of Community Health School of Health Sciences Central Michigan University USA), Lee F Monaghan (0000-0001-5971-8357, Department of Sociology University of Limerick Ireland, autor de correspondencia)
Año2017
Volumen39
Número6
Páginas923-940
Fecha de publicación2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12537
PMID28012200
OpenAlexW2561032386
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas15
Referencias citadas34

Medicalised concerns about an obesity crisis persist yet more needs to be learnt about everyday orientations to weight (loss). This article reports and analyses data generated using qualitative methods, including repeated interviews and fieldwork conducted over one year in Canada with women (n = 13) identifying as (formerly) obese. Three ideal types are explored using empirical data: (1) hopeful narratives; (2) disordered eating distress; and (3) weight-cycling or stagnation. Core themes include women's desire to embody a thin(ner) future and the good life, the harms of intentional weight-loss, and resignation to living as a fat woman whilst nonetheless challenging stigma. The article contributes to critical studies of weight/fatness, the sociology of bodily change and the embodiment of health identities. In concluding, we call for reflexive change in bodies of health knowledge, policy and practice

Distress · Everyday life · Narrative · Obesity · Overweight · Political science · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Stigma (botany · Weight loss · Weight stigma · Clinical Psychology · Diversity and Impact of Dance · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Gender Studies · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology