TITLE:
Struggle for a Meaningful Life after Obesity Treatment—A Qualitative Systematic Literature Review
AUTHORS:
Kristine Rørtveit, Bodil Furnes, Elin Dysvik, Venke Ueland
KEYWORDS:
Obesity Treatment, Patient Experiences, Qualitative Review
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.7 No.12,
December
28,
2017
ABSTRACT: Aim: The
aim of this review was to describe and systemize existing literature on
patient-experiences in the context of obesity treatment. The review question
was: How do patients describe their experiences after obesity treatment? Background: Obesity problems vary on a continuum of intensity and types of problems during
different periods of life. An increasing amount of available treatment requires
patients and professionals to make choices concerning the suitability of the
individual patient to undergo certain types of treatment. Surgical treatment is
considered sustainable and more successful for weight loss than other
interventions. Alternatively, conservative treatment of obesity may be a matter
of dealing with mental issues as well as diet and exercise. In a qualitative
context, a deeper understanding related to patients’ own posttreatment
experiences is needed. Methods: A systematic qualitative literature
review was conducted for the period from 2006 to November 2016. The search was
done in Medline, Embase and CINAHL using the words: Obesity, binge eating,
patient, experience or perspective, treat or therap or surgery or cognitive, intervention, programme. Results
and discussion: 15 studies were included and an overview of the qualitative
designs was presented. From the content analysis, one main theme, Struggle for a meaningful life during
transition related to obesity treatment, was developed. The main theme was
derived from three themes related to the patients’ challenges when searching
for positive self-existence, for relevant treatment-support, and for a balance
to obtain inner and outer control. Clinical implications: Different
types of obesity treatment create processes of transitions. However, it is
crucial that clinicians are aware of the potential existential struggle after
obesity treatment that is experienced by the individual patients. Clearly, some
patients need interventions targeting mental
challenges at different levels. Future interventions should take into account
that physical and mental treatment must work together.