A qualitative research trial was performed to clarify the recognition for body-weight change and health-related behavior of adult women by a semistructured interview with a content analysis. The subjects were eight women who had given birth (44-53 years old). Three subjects had BMI of more than 25 now or in the past (obese group), two had BMI of less than 25 but tending to increase (normal weight increase group) and three were of normal weight without any tendency for increase (normal weight group). The responses of the subjects from the obese and normal weight increase groups indicated that tolerance and lack of recognition of their obesity, people concerned and the medical institution attended during pregnancy or after birth were all component factors in their weight gain. Every subject was interested in health and such health-related activities as paying attention to eating habits, but three of the five subjects in the obese and normal weight increase group did not have a regular medical checkup. We report one representative case from each group.
The results show the importance of qualitative research to clarify the actual conditions and recognition of body-weight change, as well as of quantitative research to prevent and treat obesity.
