Moving Forward in Their Journey: Participants’ Experience of Taste & See, A Church-Based Programme to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food

Abstract

Abstract:Quantitative evidence is beginning to document the successful outcomes achieved from holistic interventions that include a spiritual element as an approach to self-manage obesity in the community. However, qualitative research, which helps us understand the reasons behind their success, is scarce. Our aim was to explore participants' acceptance of and engagement with the Taste & See programme. Semi-structured interviews were carried out after participants had completed the Taste & See programme. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using deductive thematic analysis. Themes showing that 'God and food issues had been kept separate' at the start of the programme and that participants then 'Began to use faith as a resource' were identified. Also, while 'Eating freely was a challenge' initially, participants later found 'empowerment and enjoyment in freedom'. 'Addressing more than just a weight problem' was valued highly and there were benefits and difficulties that arose from 'Coping with other group members'. The rich level of evaluation provided through this study identifies that the participants found the programme a novel experience. The intervention was acceptable and participants engaged well with the programme content.

A Holistic Approach for Ethics and Sustainability in the Food Chain: The Gateway to Oral and Systemic Health

“…According to the latter, the true self is associated with the superior spiritual body, often termed the Light Body [31]. Personal spiritual beliefs can be correlated with mental strength, stability, self-control, self-efficacy, and an improved relationship with foods [92][93][94][95]. Improvements in uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, intuitive eating, and mental and spiritual well-being have been shown following a religious program with a spiritual component, as reported by Patel et al [94,95].…”

Ethics in the Food Ecosystem from Research to Consumption in Conjunction with Oral Health Significance for Sustainability and Spirituality Purposes—Mouth: The Sacred Gateway

“…According to the latter, the true self is associated with the superior spiritual body, often termed the Light Body [31]. Personal spiritual beliefs can be correlated with mental strength, stability, selfcontrol, self-efficacy and an improved relationship to foods [89][90][91][92]. Improvements in uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, intuitive eating, mental and spiritual wellbeing have been shown following a religious program with a spiritual component as reported by Patel et al [91,92].…”

A Feasibility Study of Taste & See: A Church Based Programme to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food

“…Data on participant acceptability and engagement was collected using short semi-structured face-to-face interviews; full details are reported here [33]. Facilitator acceptability was measured qualitatively by focus groups and short semi-structured face-to-face interviews.…”

“…A full evaluation of participants' experience of the Taste & See programme is reported elsewhere [33] and summarized briefly here. For most of the participants, the idea of bringing God into their eating was not something they had previously considered despite experiencing considerable struggles with their weight.…”