Men and Dieting: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

This article describes a qualitative study in which men were interviewed about their experiences of dieting and views on related issues such as health and body image. Data from this research were analysed using a combination of discourse analysis and grounded theory. Men engaged in dieting and weight loss constructed themselves differently from women dieters: they described women who diet as doing so for cosmetic reasons, whereas men preferred to think of themselves as dieting for ‘legitimate’ reasons such as health. Dieting and related initiatives such as joining a slimming club were positioned as female activities, which (heterosexual) men were less willing to undertake without receiving ‘support’ from partners, family and peers.