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Obesity and relapse after dieting pose a significant threat to an increasing number of adults in this country. Resistance to treatment and high relapse rates make this problem frustrating for patients and practitioners. There is limited research on relapse causation; research on social and life circumstance factors is uncommon. Given the limitations of existing research, the purpose of this study was to investigate the natural course of obesity relapse. A purposive sample of eight obese women, ages 31-57, was selected. All of the women relapsed at least one or more times throughout their lives. A qualitative study design was used to examine and integrate their attributions for relapse. The qualitative paradigm was selected because it allowed for an inclusive study of relapse without confining the investigation to a predetermined set of responses. Information was gathered on contributory factors: physical, social and psychological, but not limited to these areas. These factors were reported in a case study format. Verbatim quotes were used to provide descriptive information and insight into individual cases. Cases were analyzed for main attributions; key words and phrases were used to develop categories. Common themes were derived from these categories and examined across the cases. Conventional wisdom about the factors, which contribute to obesity relapse, was challenged by this research study. Excess calories and decreased physical activity were not the only conditions that were contributory to the respondents' relapses. Diverse social and psychological issues often combined with physical factors to dominate the respondents' attributions. The relapse attribution themes commonly represented in the case studies included: the impact of food restriction, the impact of having personal choice taken away, negative emotions, physiological factors, lifestyle demands and the return to familiar food habits. Based on this study, it is recommended that obesity practitioners consider assessment and treatment modalities that are holistic. A paradigm shift away from traditional approaches may be a necessary step in providing more effective treatment. Additional research, which focuses on life circumstances and obesity relapse, is needed. / Ph. D.

yes / The paper examines patterns of post-conflict aid in a sample of 14 countries, with in-depth, qualitative analysis of seven cases (Bosnia, Cambodia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mozambique and Rwanda). The study takes previous work by Paul Collier and associates in this area as a starting point, but disaggregates the data by type of aid, time intervals, and historical period. The findings significantly qualify the Collier conclusion to the effect that donors respond to a CNN-effect in a dysfunctional manner by rushing in aid soon after a peace agreement is concluded and scaling back too soon. Rather, disaggregated analysis shows that post-war aid follows several patterns and can best be understood as strategic behavior designed to promote a range of economic and political objectives. This paper also questions the related policy recommendation of the Collier research on post-conflict aid, namely that post-conflict aid should be phased in so as to maximize economic growth on the grounds that this is important to sustain peace during the first post-conflict decade. Instead, this paper finds, aid strategies that demonstrate early and firm donor commitment to the new order are more likely to stabilize peace in the short run, and aid strategies that address the underlying sources of conflict are important to sustain peace in the longer run.