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A lifelong struggle for a lighter tomorrow: A qualitative study on experiences of obesity in primary healthcare patients
Örebro University, School of Health Sciences. University Health Care Research Center.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7525-9509
Örebro University, School of Medical Sciences. Örebro University Hospital. University Health Care Research Center.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2559-5456
Örebro University, School of Medical Sciences. Örebro University Hospital. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University Health Care Research Center, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6864-4679
Örebro University, School of Health Sciences. Örebro University Hospital. University Health Care Research Center.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7352-8234
2023 (English)In: Journal of Clinical Nursing, ISSN 0962-1067, E-ISSN 1365-2702, Vol. 32, no 5-6, p. 834-846Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

AIM: To describe experiences of living with obesity before the start of a group-based lifestyle intervention.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a chronic disease that affects a person's physical and psychological health. Increased knowledge of experiences of living with obesity is required.

DESIGN: A qualitative study with a descriptive design.

METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews with 17 participants living with obesity (Body Mass Index 32-49) were conducted between October and November 2019. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The COREQ checklist was followed.

RESULTS: The analysis resulted in one main theme: Struggling for a lighter tomorrow and three subthemes: Suffering, Resilience and Need for support in making changes. For the majority of the participants, living with obesity was a lifelong struggle involving suffering on different levels. Yet despite this, the participants had not given up and hoped for a better life. They showed a degree of resilience and motivation, and a perceived ability to achieve lifestyle changes. However, there was a pronounced need for support to help them achieve this.

CONCLUSION: Living with obesity is complex and carries a risk of medical complications as well as psychosocial suffering. Healthy lifestyle habits to achieve better health and to lose weight should be encouraged, taking patient resources into account. Patients also need help in handling weight stigmatisation, and both healthcare professionals and society must engage with this.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Obesity is a chronic disease, and patients need ongoing support. Therefore, care for patients with obesity in primary health care must be further developed. Patient resources and strengths have to be acknowledged and encouraged in the process of helping them adopt healthy lifestyle habits. The findings of this study can contribute to ending weight stigmatisation by increasing the knowledge of living with obesity.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2023. Vol. 32, no 5-6, p. 834-846
Keywords [en]
Experiences, lifestyle, nursing, obesity, primary health care, qualitative research
National Category
Nursing
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-99525DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16379ISI: 000804990000001PubMedID: 35655375Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85131172733OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-99525DiVA, id: diva2:1669816
Note

Funding agency:

University Health Care Research Center, Region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden

Available from: 2022-06-15 Created: 2022-06-15 Last updated: 2024-01-02Bibliographically approved

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Imhagen, AnnikaKarlsson, JanJansson, Stefan P. O.Anderzen-Carlsson, Agneta

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