The experience of weight management in normal weight adults.

BACKGROUND: No prior research has been done with normal weight persons specific to their experience of weight management.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to discover the experience of weight management in normal weight individuals.

METHOD: Glaserian grounded theory was used. Qualitative data (focus group) and quantitative data (food diary, study questionnaire, and anthropometric measures) were collected.

DISCUSSION: Weight management was an ongoing process of trying to focus on living (family, work, and social), while maintaining their normal weight targets through five consciously and unconsciously used strategies. Despite maintaining normal weights, the nutritional composition of foods eaten was grossly inadequate.

CONCLUSIONS: These five strategies can be used to develop new weight management strategies that could be integrated into existing weight management programs, or could be developed into novel weight management interventions. Surprisingly, normal weight individuals require dietary assessment and nutrition education to prevent future negative health consequences.