Putting life on hold: lived experiences of people with obesity.

Britt Marit Haga,Elin Dysvik,Bodil Furnes,Venke Ueland

doi:10.1111/scs.12756

Britt Marit Haga, Elin Dysvik + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12756

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Abstract

Obesity presents challenges in everyday life, one of which involves the existential aspects of living life as a person with obesity. There is a need for understanding the existential experiences, but there is limited in-depth research about these experiences of people with obesity. The aim of this study was to gain deeper insight into the existential experiences of people dealing with obesity. We performed a qualitative study that included in-depth interviews with seven men and 14 women with obesity (body mass index≥35kg/m2 ) aged 18-59years. The study took a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach in which the participants' own experiences formed the basis for understanding their lifeworld. The lived experiences of people dealing with obesity were characterised by several existential challenges. One overarching theme-Putting life on hold when struggling with obesity-was developed based on three themes: The body as an impediment to living the desired life, to being oneself and to moving on in life. These findings illustrate the complex existential experience of life, body and existence faced by people dealing with obesity. Based on these findings, we discuss whether people with obesity who experience 'putting life on hold' are attuned to live their life to the fullest in some areas. Their embodied experiences seem to challenge them to experience the joy of life, to appear as a whole self and to live life in the moment. Reflecting on obesity in the context of life and life phenomena seems to provide deeper insights into the existence of people living with obesity and may help to advance a more comprehensive approach in obesity health care.

Highlights

The number of people with obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, is gradually increasing throughout the world [1], and this increase has attracted growing attention
The participants in the study described challenges related to everyday life and their body and existence when living with obesity
Dealing with obesity involves a complex relationship between everyday life and one’s body and existence

Summary

Introduction

The number of people with obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, is gradually increasing throughout the world [1], and this increase has attracted growing attention. Many people with obesity are prone to have a reduced quality of life [7], psychological problems [8,9], low selfesteem, poor body image [5,10], blame [11] and shame and guilt [10,12] When considering how these challenges influence the health of people with obesity, it is relevant to include an existential perspective on living life as a person with obesity; that is, how we as human beings experience and understand our existence in the context of life [13]. Some researchers have recently emphasised that weight regain (if weight is even lost) and weight cycling (repeated weight gain and loss) contribute to poorer health and further stigmatisation [25,26,27], and may even lead to greater weight gain over the long term [28]

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