Weight management needs in under-resourced communities elicited using storyboarding and a realist lens: A qualitative study

Background: Overweight and obesity are causing growing public health, economic and clinical burden, particularly within under-resourced communities. There is an urgent need to develop an in-depth understanding of experiences of weight management, and preferences for support within under-resourced communities, with a view to developing more effective weight management interventions.

Methods: Focus groups were run in under-resourced communities using storyboarding; a method to facilitate inclusive communication (n=37). Thematic analysis was applied to textual and visual data, and a realist ‘lens’ applied to provide in-depth insight into weight management experiences and needs. We believe this is the first study to use this combined methodology to explore weight management experiences and needs.

Results: Combining storyboarding with a realist lens, generated four themes. Living circumstances indicated that mental health, individual needs, and cost of weight management services were key contextual factors. Mechanisms of weight management identified emotional eating and portion control to be central to individual weight management. Yo-yo dieting centred on participants’ experiences of weight regain after attempting weight loss. Weight management intervention needs indicated psychological support was perceived as severely lacking, and the only route to attain sustained weight management. Offering both in-person and online support for weight management was considered important to reach more people.

Conclusion: Moving weight management support from short- to long-term and incorporating more robust psychological support would better serve the needs of people living in under-resourced communities who are overweight or obese. Ideally interventions should be multicomponent and tailored to individual needs and circumstances.