Cultural Challenges to Weight Management: A Qualitative Study of Saudi Women’s Experiences

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To explore and describe the experiences of Saudi women with obesity regarding cultural barriers that prevent them from following dietary and physical activity recommendations.

Design

Phenomenological qualitative study.

Methods

A focus group (4 participants) and individual interviews (13 participants) were conducted from seventeen women participating in a nutrition and weight management program.

Findings

Several themes were identified based on experiences and consequences of cultural restraints.

Conclusions

Findings provide an understanding of how cultural factors impede Saudi women with obesity from achieving effective weight management.

Clinical Evidence

Designing weight management programs that are individualized and consider the differences in how women are culturally affected provide more effective interventions for women with obesity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the “Research Center of the Female Scientific and Medical Colleges”, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University under Grant [NE-G-7-18-02-27].