Weight loss improves health but little is known regarding how those who achieve feel about it. Aiming to identify positive and negative consequences of a successful weight loss, 30 men and women who achieved a successful weight loss were interviewed. Interviews were analysed (content and thematic analysis). Inter-rater agreement was assessed. With multiple correspondence analysis, a three-factor model explained the associations between categories: (1) personal growth/social adversities, (2) body image/social benefits and (3) physical/emotional well-being. Successful weight loss has positive and negative consequences that need to be addressed; positive aspects (e.g. personal growth) and negative consequences (e.g. relational problems) need to be tackled.
Keywords: consequences; content analysis; qualitative methods; successful weight loss; thematic analysis.