Life experiences of women living with obesity

The primary objective of this study is to examine the experiences of women living with obesity from a feminist social work perspective. Addressing obesity solely from a medical standpoint may lead to the neglect of its psychological, social, cultural, and structural determinants. In contrast, the feminist perspective adopted in this research enables a comprehensive understanding of how gender roles, normative beauty standards, and the social construction of the body influence obesity, thereby revealing the multifaceted experiences of women living with this condition. The study employed feminist phenomenology, a qualitative research method. The participants consisted of 20 women aged between 18 and 65, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, and who were not pregnant. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis via MAXQDA 2024 software. The analysis yielded three main themes: "dynamics contributing to the emergence and persistence of obesity," "being a woman living with obesity," and "experiences of distancing from obesity." The findings indicate that the etiology of obesity is shaped not only by genetic, biological, and medical factors but also by psychological and motivational dynamics, lifestyle practices, social environment, and gender norms. Moreover, obesity manifests in women's lives as a multilayered experience encompassing biological, psychological, social, spatial, and political dimensions. Accordingly, the study highlights the necessity of addressing the empowerment needs of women living with obesity at individual, societal, and structural levels simultaneously. Based on these findings, the study highlights the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach in the provision of services related to obesity and emphasizes the need for the social work profession to take a more active role in this field. In line with this, the study presents recommendations for social work practice, health services, policy development, and future research involving individuals living with obesity.