Abstract
BackgroundLong-term weight management consists of weight-loss, weight-loss maintenance, and weight-gain stages. Qualitative insights into weight management are now appearing in the literature however research appears to be biased towards explorations of weight-loss maintenance. The qualitative understanding of weight loss, which begets weight-loss maintenance and might establish the experiences and behaviours necessary for successful long-term weight management, is comparatively under-investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the weight-loss experiences of a sample of participants not aligned to clinical intervention research, in order to understand the weight-loss experiences of a naturalistic sample.MethodsParticipants (n = 8) with weight-loss (n = 4) and weight-maintenance experiences (n = 4) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview to understand the weight-loss experience. Interview data was analysed thematically using Framework Analysis and was underpinned by realist meta-theory.ResultsWeight loss was experienced as an enduring challenge, where factors that assisted weight loss were developed and experienced dichotomously to factors that hindered it. Participants described barriers to (dichotomous thinking, environments, social pressures and weight centeredness) and facilitators of (mindfulness, knowledge, exercise, readiness to change, structure, self-monitoring and social support) their weight-loss goals in rich detail, highlighting that weight loss was a complex experience.ConclusionsWeight loss was a difficult task, with physical, social, behavioural and environmental elements that appeared to assist and inhibit weight-loss efforts concurrently. Health professionals might need to better understand the day-to-day challenges of dieters in order to provide more effective, tailored treatments. Future research should look to investigate the psycho-social consequences of weight-loss dieting, in particular self-imposed social exclusion and spousal sabotage and flexible approaches to treatment.
Highlights
Long-term weight management consists of weight-loss, weight-loss maintenance, and weight-gain stages
Evidence indicates that weight loss leads to adaptations that increase appetite [2], the desire to eat and preoccupations with food [2], cravings [3], and reduced energy cost of activity [4]
Theoretical underpinning This study was underpinned by realist meta-theory, which enables and requires the deep exploration and description of participants’ perspectives, experiences and realities in an objective and explicit matter [11]
Summary
Long-term weight management consists of weight-loss, weight-loss maintenance, and weight-gain stages. The qualitative understanding of weight loss, which begets weight-loss maintenance and might establish the experiences and behaviours necessary for successful long-term weight management, is comparatively under-investigated. Small proportions of individuals do achieve and maintain weight loss [5], and research has sought to identify factors that differentiate these individuals from those who are unable to achieve their weight-loss goals [6,7,8] Successful dieters modify their lifestyles to achieve early successes [6]; they maintain and remodel their newfound behaviours over time [7]; they possess social support mechanisms [1, 6,7,8], and are attentive to threats to their weight status [6, 7]. Successful dieters view weight loss as a lifelong commitment [1, 6,7,8]
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