Factors relating to motivation to change behaviour in individuals who are overweight: application of the health belief model

Background: Obesity is the most important health challenge faced at a global level and represents a rapidly growing problem to the health of populations. Given the escalating global health problem of obesity and its co-morbidities, the need to re-appraise its management is more compelling than ever. The normalisation of obesity within our society and the acceptance of higher body weights have led to individuals being unaware of the reality of their weight status and gravity of this situation. Recognition of the problem is a key component of obesity management and it remains especially crucial to address this issue. A large amount of research has been undertaken on obesity however, limited research has been undertaken using the Health Belief Model. Aim: The aim of the research was to determine factors relating to motivation to change behaviour in individuals who perceive themselves to be overweight and investigate whether the constructs of the Health Belief Model help to explain motivation to change behaviour. Method: The research design was quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional. The design was guided by the Health Belief Model. Data Collection: Data were collected online using a multi-section and multi-item questionnaire, developed from a review of the theoretical and empirical research. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to describe relationships between variables. Sample: A sample of 202 men and women who perceived themselves to be overweight participated in the research. Results: Following multivariate regression analysis, perceived barriers to weight loss and perceived benefits of weight loss were significant predictors of motivation to change behaviour. The perceived barriers to weight loss which were significant were psychological barriers to weight loss (p =<0.019) and environmental barriers to physical activity (p=<0.032).The greatest predictor of motivation to change behaviour was the perceived benefits of weight loss (p<0.001). Perceived susceptibility to obesity and perceived severity of obesity did not emerge as significant predictors in this model. Total variance explained by the model was 33.5%. Conclusion: Perceived barriers to weight loss and perceived benefits of weight loss are important determinants of motivation to change behaviour. The current study demonstrated the limited applicability of the Health Belief Model constructs to motivation to change behaviour, as not all core dimensions proved significant predictors of the dependant variable.

The Kyoto School and Confucianism: a Confucian reading of the philosophy of history and political thought of Masaaki Kosaka

This dissertation examines the philosophy of Masaaki K��saka (1900-1969) from the East Asian perspective of Confucianism, which I believe is the most appropriate moral paradigm for comprehending his political speculations. Although largely neglected in post-war scholarship, K��saka was a prominent member of the Kyoto School during the 1930s and 40s. This was a group of Japanese thinkers strongly associated with the philosophies of Kitar�� Nishida and Hajime Tanabe. K��saka is now best known for his participation in the three Ch���� K��ron symposia held in 1941 and 1942. These meetings have been routinely denounced by liberal historians due to the participants��� support for the Pacific War and the Co-Prosperity Sphere. However, many of these liberal portrayals have failed to take into account the full extent of the group���s resistance to the military junta of Hideki T��j��. Adopting the methods and techniques of the empirical disciplines of academic history and Orientalism, I develop an interpretative framework that is more receptive to the political values that mattered to K��saka as a Confucian inspired intellectual. This has necessitated the rejection of moral history, which typically prioritises modern liberal values brought a priori to the historical record of wartime Japan, as well as recognition of the different ontological foundations that inform the unique political theories of the East Asian intellectual tradition. Reinforced by the prior research of Michel Dalissier and Graham Parkes, as well as my own reading of the Confucian canon, I adopt David Williams���s thesis of ���Confucian Revolution��� as my principle schema of interpretation. This, I believe, is better able to reconcile K��saka���s support for the war with his strong condemnation of the imperialist practices of the Japanese military. Moreover, acknowledging the importance of Confucianism allows us to fully appreciate K��saka���s strong affinity for Kant���s practical metaphysics, Hegel���s political philosophy and Ranke���s historiography.