Weight Loss Experiences of Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women with Dietitian Support: A Qualitative Research

Serap Akdağ Koç; Gülşah Kaner

Article Details

Weight Loss Experiences of Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women with Dietitian Support: A Qualitative Research

Authors:

Serap Akdağ Koç | Gülşah Kaner

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi

Journal:

İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.159-167

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350462

pISSN:

2458-9799

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Objective: To describe in detail the challenges faced by overweight and obese postmenopausal women, and to explore their experiences with weight loss through dietitian support. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 14 participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information through metaphors and open-ended questions to elicit participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and its effects, their views on dietitian support, and their suggestions regarding exercise and diet. The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder. The transcribed voice recordings were coded and analysed using the computer-assisted qualitative research programme MAXQDA 22. Results: Four main themes were identified: participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and their effects, perceptions of dietitian support, and participants suggestions for exercise and diet. Participants experiences of menopause were mostly expressed as difficulty in losing weight and weight gain, and their perceptions of obesity were expressed as restriction of exercise, occurrence of illness and easy fatigue due to increased body weight. Participants primarily reported motivations for weight loss such as achieving a healthier lifestyle, ensuring healthy aging, and maintaining a high quality of life. Participants emphasized that the dietitians primary role was to support for motivation. Conclusion: Women generally associate menopause with illness, obesity, vasomotor symptoms, and psychological issues. The findings show that the dietitians approach is crucial both for the treatment process and for the consultant. It is also important to provide psychological support to postmenopausal women in conjunction with dietitian support.

 Objective: To describe in detail the challenges faced by overweight and obese postmenopausal women, and to explore their experiences with weight loss through dietitian support. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 14 participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information through metaphors and open-ended questions to elicit participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and its effects, their views on dietitian support, and their suggestions regarding exercise and diet. The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder. The transcribed voice recordings were coded and analysed using the computer-assisted qualitative research programme MAXQDA 22. Results: Four main themes were identified: participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and their effects, perceptions of dietitian support, and participants suggestions for exercise and diet. Participants experiences of menopause were mostly expressed as difficulty in losing weight and weight gain, and their perceptions of obesity were expressed as restriction of exercise, occurrence of illness and easy fatigue due to increased body weight. Participants primarily reported motivations for weight loss such as achieving a healthier lifestyle, ensuring healthy aging, and maintaining a high quality of life. Participants emphasized that the dietitians primary role was to support for motivation. Conclusion: Women generally associate menopause with illness, obesity, vasomotor symptoms, and psychological issues. The findings show that the dietitians approach is crucial both for the treatment process and for the consultant. It is also important to provide psychological support to postmenopausal women in conjunction with dietitian support.

 Objective: To describe in detail the challenges faced by overweight and obese postmenopausal women, and to explore their experiences with weight loss through dietitian support. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 14 participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information through metaphors and open-ended questions to elicit participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and its effects, their views on dietitian support, and their suggestions regarding exercise and diet. The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder. The transcribed voice recordings were coded and analysed using the computer-assisted qualitative research programme MAXQDA 22. Results: Four main themes were identified: participants experiences of menopause, changes in body weight and their effects, perceptions of dietitian support, and participants suggestions for exercise and diet. Participants experiences of menopause were mostly expressed as difficulty in losing weight and weight gain, and their perceptions of obesity were expressed as restriction of exercise, occurrence of illness and easy fatigue due to increased body weight. Participants primarily reported motivations for weight loss such as achieving a healthier lifestyle, ensuring healthy aging, and maintaining a high quality of life. Participants emphasized that the dietitians primary role was to support for motivation. Conclusion: Women generally associate menopause with illness, obesity, vasomotor symptoms, and psychological issues. The findings show that the dietitians approach is crucial both for the treatment process and for the consultant. It is also important to provide psychological support to postmenopausal women in conjunction with dietitian support.

 Amaç: Vücut ağırlığı kaybı sağlayan postmenopozal dönemdeki hafif şişman ve şişman kadınların yaşadıkları problemleri derinlemesine betimlemek ve diyetisyen desteği ile zayıflama deneyimlerini ortaya çıkarmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Nitel araştırma desenlerinden fenomenolojik bir yaklaşımla verileri toplanan bu araştırma 14 kadın katılımcı ile yürütülmüştür. Yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniği kullanılarak katılımcıların menopoz deneyimlerini, vücut ağırlıklarındaki değişimi ve etkilerini, diyetisyen desteğine bakış açılarını, egzersiz ve beslenme konusundaki önerilerini ortaya çıkarmak için metaforlar ve açık uçlu sorular aracılığıyla katılımcılardan bilgi toplanmıştır. Görüşmeler ses kayıt cihazı ile kayıt altına alınmıştır. Deşifresi yapılan ses kayıtları bilgisayar destekli nitel araştırma programı MAXQDA 22 kullanılarak kodlanıp analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Kadınlar ile yapılan görüşmelerden elde edilen ses kayıtları ve görüşme notları deşifre edilmiştir. Çalışmada dört tema belirlenmiştir. Bu ana temalar; katılımcıların menopoz deneyimleri, vücut ağırlığındaki değişim ve etkileri, diyetisyen desteği algısı ve katılımcıların egzersiz ve beslenme konusundaki önerileri şeklindedir. Katılımcılar menopoz deneyimlerini çoğunlukla kilo kaybetmekte zorlanma ve kilo artışının olması olarak ifade etmiş, vücut ağırlığı artışına bağlı hareketlerin kısıtlanması, hastalıkların ortaya çıkması, çabuk yorulma kodları ile şişmanlık algılarını dile getirmişlerdir. Katılımcıların zayıflamayı isteme sebeplerinin başında ise sağlıklı bir yaşam sürmek, sağlıklı bir yaşlılık yaşamak, kaliteli bir yaşam sürmek gibi hedefler bulunmaktadır. Katılımcılar, diyetisyenin en büyük rolünün motivasyon için destek olduğunu vurgulamışlardır. Sonuç: Kadınlar menopozu; çoğunlukla hastalıklar, obezite, vazomotor semptomlar ve ruhsal sorunlarla ilişkilendirmişlerdir. Diyetisyenin kadınlara yaklaşımının hem tedavi süreci hem de danışan açısından büyük önem taşıdığı gösterilmiştir. Postmenopozal dönemdeki kadınlara diyetisyen desteği ile birlikte psikolojik destek sağlanmasının da önemli olduğu düşünülmüştür.

Article Details

Weight Loss Experiences of Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women with Dietitian Support: A Qualitative Research

Authors:

Serap Akdağ Koç | Gülşah Kaner

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi

Journal:

İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.159-167

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350462

pISSN:

2458-9799

Menopause

qualitative research

postmenopause

weight lossMenopoz

nitel araştırma

postmenopoz

zayıflama

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Serap Akdağ Koç | Gülşah Kaner

Publisher: Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics: Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi

Journal: İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.159-167

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001350462

pISSN: 2458-9799

Issues

Authors:

Serap Akdağ Koç | Gülşah Kaner

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Halk Sağlığı Beslenmesi

Journal:

İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.159-167

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350462

pISSN:

2458-9799