Towards Precision Health in Weight Reduction: Thematic Content Analysis of an Open-Ended Survey on Reasons Why Morbidly Obese Patients Want to Lose Weight.

Abstract

Background: Addressing individuals’ motivation to lose weight among patients with morbid obesity is an essential entity in weight reduction. Failures to shift motivation into weight loss actions are common. These could be contributed by the inadequacy to identify and subsequently address the key reasons, that are of particular concern to the patient' individual needs. We aimed to understand the motivations better and identify the reasons why morbidly obese patients attending hospital-based weight management programmes (WMP) wanted to lose weight. Methods: The study used a qualitative approach to analyze part of a quantitative questionnaire of a more extensive study to understand factors influencing weight loss among morbidly obese patients. We used thematic content analysis to analyze responses from a self-administered open-ended question "What is the main factor why you want to lose your weight?”. A total of 225 new patients attending obesity clinics in two tertiary hospitals responded to the questionnaire. Results: Patients’ mean BMI was 45.6±8.05 kg/m2. Four themes emerged for the reasons why morbidly obese patients wanted to lose weight. Health was the most commonly inferred theme (84%). Patients were concerned about the impact obesity had on their health. Overcoming obesity was seen as a reward not just for physical health, but also for their psychological wellbeing. Patients regard being functional to care for themselves, their family members, as well as their religious and career needs as the next most crucial theme (25.8%). Patients raised the theme appearance (12.9%), especially with regards to wanting to look and feel beautiful. The last theme was perceived stigmatization for being morbidly obese as they were mocked and laughed at for their appearance (3.1%).Conclusion: Patients with morbid obesity in this study had expressed their main personal motivational reasons to lose weight. Concerns about the impact of morbid obesity on health, physical, social and obligatory function, appearance and perceived stigma warrant detailed exploration by the managing health professionals. Identifying and addressing these unique personal motivations in a focused approach is vital at the beginning and throughout a weight reduction program in this unique group.

Motivating Weight Loss Among Black Adults in Relationships: Recommendations for Weight Loss Interventions

“…One study of young adults (ages 18-25) showed that improvement in appearance motivated weight loss more than health concerns (Lanoye et al, 2019). Maintaining or regaining physical functioning, as indicated similarly in our sample, was the most significant trigger for weight loss among individuals with morbid obesity (Md-Yasin et al, 2022). Furthermore, doctor recommendations (Schlicht et al, 2017) and improvements in selfconfidence (Holley et al, 2016) have also driven individuals to initiate weight loss.…”