Issues of weight preoccupation such as food, dieting and health are often discussed openly and with great interest and enthusiasm in many informal social situations.
Beyond Dieting considered these groups successful in terms of improving self esteem, helping members make peace with their relationship with food and increasing their knowledge and understanding of weight related issues
Despite the fact that they were not losing weight, most expressed a desire to continue the group process. They wanted to continue talking about these issues but no longer wanted to focus on food, dieting or weighing themselves..

The dynamic forces that were essential parts of the Beyond Dieting Group® included:

• Mutual Support: Support among others who confront similar issues with regard to weight preoccupation was an essential part of the group process. The group leader and members provided support which helped reduce anxiety and encouraged participation and willingness to hear new ideas.
  
  
• Cohesiveness: Mutual acceptance lent itself to group commitment and enjoyment. When mutual support, acceptance and empathy were provided, cohesiveness and a sense of belonging were achieved.
  
  
• Quality of Relationships: The relationships among the members provided support and caring in an environment of trust and intimacy.
  
  
• Universalization: It was important and reassuring for others to learn that they were not the only ones struggling with weight related issues. Although many weight preoccupation issues are discussed in informal social situations, the depth of isolation, loneliness or frustration was usually not shared as readily among friends or acquaintances particularly when one is obese.
  
  
• Instilling hope: Repeat dieters often feel hopeless and isolated. Through the group process, members developed hope and optimism for the future.
  
  
• Altruism: Helping others and in turn helping themselves, helped members to feel good about themselves and increased self esteem.
  
  
• Acquisition of knowledge and skills: Educating group members about what is KNOWN about dieting and weight preoccupation as opposed to what is commonly BELIEVED was an essential part of the group's goals. Techniques such as irrational eating were discussed and utilized by some members as a method of learning how to disempower food.
  
  
• Catharsis: Expression of feelings and disclosure of experiences served to reduce anxiety and aided in the achievement of goals in conjunction with knowledge that was gained.
  
  
• Corrective emotional experiences: It was important for members to separate the guilt and self-loathing that often resulted from weight preoccupation. Members needed to explore and sometimes express strong emotions in resolving these issues.
  
  
• Reality testing: The groups provided multiple perspectives. The group provided feedback for sharing and comparing perceptions, feelings and facts. Through sharing thoughts and feelings, it was reassuring to find that others may have felt the same way or had similar experiences.

The specific goals of Beyond Dieting® were:

• To educate: It was very important for the group to have an educational component. Most people receive information about dieting and weight preoccupation through a variety of sources such as popular books, magazines, television, weight loss agencies and the medical community. People will often informally discuss dieting and weight loss information that is learned through various sources. Much of this information comes from sources that are recommending or selling their own weight loss techniques and is based on the belief that diets are effective in dealing with both weight issues and weight preoccupation and on marketing principles. Therefore there are usually biases inherent in most information received. I believed that most people were poorly informed and know little concrete data or research about dieting and weight preoccupation. It was important that Beyond Dieting provide accurate information for discussion and therefore increase the awareness and knowledge of members. Presentations of current beliefs and controversies as found in both the popular press and scientific journals were included for discussion in most weekly sessions.
  
  
• To increase self esteem: Individuals who struggle with weight related issues often have low self esteem (Campbell, 1977; Overdahl, 1987). It was hoped that self esteem would be enhanced as awareness about body image and self esteem issues were explored in a supportive environment.
  
  
• To explore one's relationship with food: Through the process of repeated dieting and weight preoccupation, it was hypothesized that most members would have a dysfunctional relationship with food. It was important for the group to look at the meaning that they had given food and explore the power that food had developed for them. It was important to learn that there was more to eating than hunger. Members' current eating styles may have reflected their relationship with food and were to be discussed and evaluated in a non-judgmental setting. It was hoped that through the group process and experience, normalized eating would be discussed and encouraged.

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