Postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity choosing a nutritional approach for weight loss: A decisional needs assessment

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the decisional needs of postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity choosing between two nutritional approaches for weight loss: a low-fat diet or a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.

Study design: Our descriptive qualitative study was based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework.

Main outcome measures: Four focus groups were conducted with postmenopausal women. A thematic content analysis was performed to determine the decisional needs influencing the choice of a low-fat diet or a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.

Results: Seventeen postmenopausal women participated in the study (median age 59 years). Most frequently reported decisional needs for each nutritional approach were sufficient levels of nutritional skills and knowledge, consideration of the physiological impacts and the sensory aspect of approaches, food availability, social support, finances and motivation. Partners, friends and daughters were considered as the most important individuals involved in the decision.

Conclusions: We identified several decisional needs influencing postmenopausal women when choosing between a low-fat diet and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. These findings could inform the design of decision support interventions that address the decisional needs of women for making and implementing informed decisions about a nutritional approach for weight loss.

Keywords: Decisional need; Diet rich in fruit and vegetables; Low-fat diet; Postmenopausal women; Weight loss.