The experience of feeling fat for women with anorexia nervosa: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Abstract
Feeling fat has been implicated as a maintenance factor in anorexia nervosa (AN), despite limited research into the experience.
This study expanded the literature by exploring the lived experience of feeling fat for women with a diagnosis of AN.
Seven women participated in this study and data was collected through semi-structured interviews.
Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to explore the participants’ experience of ‘feeling fat’ and its relevance for clinical treatment.
Four main themes emerged from the data: ‘negative sense of self’, ‘feeling out of control’, ‘coping with feeling fat’, and ‘making sense of feeling fat is complex’.
These results highlight feeling fat as a significant experience and maintenance factor for women with a diagnosis of AN.
Implications for addressing feeling fat within psychological therapy are explored.
Citations
Major, Laura; Viljoen, David; Nel, Pieter. The experience of feeling fat for women with anorexia nervosa: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling; Jan 2019
Page last reviewed: 12 June, 2025
Metadata
Author(s): Viljoen, David
Collection: 123456789/8
Subject(s): Anorexia Nervosa
Format(s): Article
Date issued: 2019-01
ID: 134