https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5600-3348
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ABSTRACT
Aims and objectives: The aim was to gain in-depth understanding about individuals’ existential experiences of living with obesity.
Background: People living with obesity face great vulnerability and existential challenges. The different treatments offered do not seem to meet the individual needs of persons with obesity. A deeper understanding of existential experiences from an individual perspective is needed to individualize treatment.
Design: An exploratory phenomenological–hermeneutical design was used to gain a greater understanding of the existential experiences involved in living with obesity.
Methods: The participants represented a convenient sample. 18 qualitative interviews were conducted and subjected to phenomenological–hermeneutical analysis.
Results: Four themes emerged: shaped by childhood; captured by food; depressed by the culture; and judged by oneself.
Conclusions: The burden of being obese can be experienced as being objectified and alienated as a human being. We need to turn towards a life-world perspective, seeing each human being as a living body to overcome objectification and alienation, and then move them towards becoming subjects in their own lives, through giving space for self-love. Health care workers need to assist persons living with obesity to reduce objectification and alienation. It is important to develop intervention that has an individual, holistic approach.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the director of the rehabilitation clinic for helping with recruiting participants to the study and facilitations for interview.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Author contributions
VU, BF, ED and KR planned the study design; VU was responsible for drafting the manuscript; and all authors contributed to the writing process.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Venke Ueland
Venke Ueland is a PhD from Department of Caring Science Åbo Akademi University, Vasa/Associated professor at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway. Her research topics includes: the Life Phenomenon longing, existential experiences related to obesity and cancer treatment care.
Bodil Furnes
Bodil Furnes is professor in Nursing Science at University of Stavanger, Norway. Her research topics includes: therapeutic writing in bereavement care, therapeutic writing in pain management, existential experiences related to obesity and cancer treatment care.
Elin Dysvik
Elin Dysvik is professor emerita in Nursing Science at University of Stavanger, Norway. She is a clinical specialist in Anesthetic nursing and Operation room nursing. Her research topics includes: chronic pain management, quality of life, cognitive therapy, therapeutic writing and existential experiences related to obesity and cancer treatment care.
Kristine Rørtveit
Kristine Rørtveit is a PhD in Leadership from University of Stavanger/Associate Professor in the University of Stavanger/Clinical Specialist in Mental Health Nursing. She works as a group-therapist in an outpatient ward at the Stavanger District Psychiatric Center and Senior Counsellor at the Research Department–both in Stavanger University Hospital. Her research topics includes: eating difficulties and existential experiences related to obesity.