Elements behind sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits in individuals with severe obesity

Abstract

Purpose This study examines elements behind sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits in individuals who lived with severe obesity during many years of their lives. Methods Ten post-bariatric surgery patients participated in semi-structured interviews 7 months after surgery. A year later, a second round of interviews was also conducted to address some knowledge gaps related to the study purpose. The qualitative data collected were analysed through content analysis. Results Embarrassment about showing their body publicly, pain and poor physical condition, and bad experiences in non-inclusive physical activity contexts were found as potential elements that contributed to their adherence to sedentary lifestyles. Poor family food education, loss of a loved one, family problems, arguments or disputes, and past traumatic events (e.g., childhood sexual abuses) could be related to their development of unhealthy eating behaviours. Findings also pointed out that participants’ failed attempts to lose weight provoked them anxiety, feelings of failure and rebellion, and influenced their return to an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Conclusions This study may be helpful to reveal some elements which could be related to the origin and perpetuation of severe obesity, and to design prevention/treatment strategies from a more holistic, sensitive, and respectful perspective.

“I wouldn’t have joined if it wasn’t online”: understanding older people’s engagement with teleyoga classes for fall prevention

“…Body-related anxiety may be especially powerful for younger people [56], and does seem to reduce with age [57], but middle-aged and older adults have also been found to avoid physical activity at gyms, swimming pools and other public sites due to embarrassment about physical characteristics and/or capabilities, across many countries and cultures [58][59][60]. Feelings of shame and anxiety about loss of dignity and negative social comparisons may be especially prominent in people who are overweight [61,62], are living with a disability [63] or are otherwise socially disadvantaged [64]. Online forums can increase psychological and social safety by reducing body exposure [65] and some participants also told us that online classes reduced distractions and competitiveness.…”

Forced Sedentariness and Sports Activity as Factors Differentiating Anthropometric Characteristics, Indices, and Body Composition in People with Disabilities

“…Studies have repeatedly shown that sedentariness is a factor influencing parameters of body composition and physique [ 29 ]. People with motor disabilities are particularly predisposed to sedentary lifestyles.…”

Obesidade E Sua Correlação Com Doenças Infecciosas

“…A prevalência da obesidade vem aumentando nos últimos anos, devido a modificações no estilo de vida (WADDEN;TRONIERI;BUTRYN, 2020). As principais condições que explicam a etiologia são múltiplas e complexas (BELTRÁN-CARRILLO et al, 2022). Entretanto, é comprovado de que um desequilíbrio energético de longo prazo entre calorias gastas e consumidas é o principal fator de obesidade (ROMIEU et al, 2017).…”