Scand J Caring Sci; 2020; 34; 514-523 Putting life on hold: lived experiences of people with obesity 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 ≥ 35 kg/m 2 ) aged 18-59 years. 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.

Purpose: We aimed to gain deeper insight into how people struggling with obesity handle their life situation by addressing how well-being might unfold. For many people, obesity becomes a lifelong condition characterized by repeated weight fluctuations while their weight increases gradually. From an existential perspective, constantly waiting for weight loss can cause an experience of not reaching one's full potential. How people with obesity experience well-being, within their perceived limitations, is less reflected in previous research. Methods: We established a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with seven men and 14 women with obesity (body mass index 3 35 kg/m 2) aged 18-59 years. The study had an exploratory design including a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective, with a lifeworld approach. Results: Three themes describing aspects of well-being were developed: coming to terms with the body, restoring the broken relational balance and reorienting the pivot in life. The thematic findings were abstracted into a main theme: striving to make living bearable. The movement towards well-being can be seen as a struggle towards an experience of balance to make bearable living. Conclusions: We suggest that well-being as a dialectic between vulnerability and freedom might become a health-facilitating experience for people struggling with obesity.

Background and AimPrevious studies show that life transitions can have negative effects on men's lives and lead to health problems and meaninglessness in life. This study aims to deepen the understanding of men's health by exploring the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life when experienced life transitions.Theoretical FrameworkThe study is anchored in Eriksson's caritative caring theory. Core concepts are health and the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life.Methodology and MethodsThe methodology is hermeneutical, and the study has a qualitative research design. Fifteen men from Norway participated in in‐depth interviews in 2021. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes emerged in relation to the suffering of life; enduring separation from community, shame at being useless as a human being, grief over what has been lost in life, and being powerless and vulnerable in the face of a hopeless struggle. Three themes emerged in relation to meaning in life; realising what is most important in one's life gives strength, decision to live one's life brings joy in life and a positive attitude towards life gives freedom and awakens a new spark for life.ConclusionSuffering of life emerges as a separation from relationships and society and as a perceived uselessness as a human being losing faith, control and feeling like a burden erodes dignity and trigger feelings of shame, guilt and degradation. Suffering of life manifests as loss of drive and spark for life. Life has meaning through finding the good in oneself, coming to know and believe in oneself and seeing new possibilities which bring about a spark for life, gratitude, dignity and freedom. Health exists in the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life, in pausing, recognising vulnerability, prioritising and reorienting oneself.

Purpose This study aimed to describe health professionals' reflections on existential concerns among people with obesity when attempting to support them in their lifestyle change processes. For many of those affected by obesity, the condition becomes lifelong and causes existential concerns. The health professionals' reflections on existential concerns among people with obesity may influence central aspects of their practice and their patients' well‐being. Methods Eighteen health professionals with relevant health education working in three different treatment programmes for people with obesity were recruited for three focus group interviews. The interviews were analysed and interpreted using a model for interpretation of meaning at three levels with a phenomenological–hermeneutical approach. Findings The analysis identified three themes. The health professionals reflected on existential concerns among people with obesity in terms of patients' repressed emotional difficulties and lack of self‐respect. In addition, they reflected on their own experiences of powerlessness when presented with people with obesity's existential concerns. Conclusion The present study provides valuable insights into reflections on existential concerns among people with obesity, based on health professionals' descriptions. We believe that these insights add to the existing literature and have consequences for how people with obesity are met and cared for.

Denne artikkelen beskriver læring fra et pedagogisk endringsarbeid i høyere utdanning, ved omlegging til litteraturstudie av bacheloroppgaven, på to utdanninger våren 2021. Hensikten med denne fagartikkelen er å formidle pedagogiske og didaktiske erfaringer, og kunnskapsutvikling i omleggingsprosessen med relevans for andre utdanninger. I endringsarbeidet som presenteres er både studenters og underviseres læring i fokus, dette for å fremme både bedre utdanningskvalitet og livslang læring med betydning for profesjonell praksis.