"At 150 kg, you can't run" men's weight loss stories in a popular health magazine provide appropriate examples of good health practice.
We explore weight loss stories from 47 men collected from the Australian edition ofMen's Healthmagazine between January 2009 and December 2012. Our analysis uses a mixed methods approach that combines thematic analysis and descriptive statistics to examine weight loss strategies against clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity. All the stories reported the use of physical activity for weight loss and most stories detailed dietary changes for weight loss. Our findings indicate that most of the men reportedly used some form of behavioural strategies to assist them in their behaviour change efforts. The weight loss methods used were consistent with clinical practice guidelines, with the exception of some dietary practices. As narratives may assist with behaviour change, stories like those examined in this study could prove to be very useful in promoting weight loss to men.
The Monash Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society, Monash University , The Alfred Centre Level 6, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne , Victoria 3004 , Australia.
Danielle
D
Couch
School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University , Clayton , Victoria 3800 , Australia.
Gil-Soo
GS
Han
School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University , Bundoora , Victoria 3086 , Australia.
Priscilla
P
Robinson
The Monash Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society, Monash University , The Alfred Centre Level 6, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne , Victoria 3004 , Australia.
Paul
P
Komesaroff
media; men's health; narrative; obesity and weight management; weight loss