Participants' perception of BMI classifications and body image
obesity, overweight’, shock, overweight, weight loss
OBESITY, SHOCK
A common perception around the concepts of ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’ was that these are extreme conditions not related to the participants themselves. Many participants recounted feelings of sadness and shock upon learning their overweight or obesity status as part of the While some participants expressed dissatisfaction with their weight and had attempted to lose weight previously, others described their own and their society's preference for having a bigger body. This was at odds with weight loss resulting from advised dietary changes and, in some cases, with participants' own desire to become fitter or lose weight. The dietitian noted the importance of shifting focus of dietary counselling from losing weight to improving health.