https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316685901 Journal of Health Psychology 1–13 © The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1359105316685901 journals.sagepub.com/home/hpq Introduction As a disproportionate body fat accumulation that can prejudice health (World Health Organization (WHO), 2015), obesity is a com- plex disease involving genetic, psychological, socioeconomic, cultural and environmental features (Anderson and Konz, 2001). The pres- ence of overweight or obesity can increase the risk of multiple physical illnesses such as car- diovascular disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension and type II diabetes (Anderson and Konz, 2001; Sarwer et al., 2011; Stroebe, 2008) and also affect individuals’ psychologi- cal state, rating high associations with social stigmatisation, discrimination and prejudice (Fabricatore et al., 2011; Ogden and Clementi, 2010; Stroebe, 2008). People with overweight who refer a history of stigmatisation tend to report a higher dissatisfaction with their bod- ies, higher levels of distress, a more dysfunc- tional investment in their appearance and a more negative body image (Annis et al., 2004; Latner and Wilson, 2011). Impacts on personal domains such as the individual’s mood, self- identity and self-perception, linking the weight Perceived consequences of a successful weight loss: A pluralist qualitative study Raquel Rosas, Filipa Pimenta, João Maroco and Isabel Leal Abstract 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 William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Portugal Corresponding author: Filipa Pimenta, William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal. Email: filipa_pimenta@ispa.pt 685901HPQ 0 0 10.1177/1359105316685901Journal of Health PsychologyRosas et al. research-article 2017 Article