Practitioner’s Perspective on Activities and Outcomes of the Weight Management Program: A Qualitative Study
Article Sidebar
Issue
Vol. 19 No. 3 (2024)
Accepted
15 October 2024
Published
29 November 2024
Keywords:
-
obesity, overweight, perspective, practitioner, qualitative study, weight management program
Abstract
This study aims to explore the activities and outcomes of weight management programs from the practitioner’s perspective. A qualitative approach was employed in this study, which included in-depth interview and document analysis. Ten practitioners with experience and diverse backgrounds were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Concurrently, document analsis was utilised by examining the printed and online documents provided by the practitioners. The verbatim transcripts and documents were analysed thematically by using Nvivo 12 software. Thematic analysis revealed four themes that represent the key activities generally executed in weight management programs: 1) nutrition and physical activities; 2) screening and monitoring; 3) motivation and spirituality, and 4) task and challenge. This study found two uncommon activities rarely mentioned in previous programs: spirituality and challenge. Practitioners also highlighted activities in the program had positive effects on participants, including: 1) demonstrating positive selfchange; 2) influencing their surroundings, and 3) cost savings. Notably, combining these activities could lead to improved outcomes, particularly when participants are fully committed to the program. In conclusion, this study identified four primary activities and three positive outcomes from the weight management programs. From the practitioner’s perspective, integrating these activities was seen as a good strategy to achieve an optimal result. Hence, it is recommended that future practitioners to incorporate and diversify the activities to enhance their effectiveness.
References
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Braun V, Clarke V. 2021. Can i use TA? Should i use TA? Should i not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Couns Psychother Res 21(1):37–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12360
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Correia MITD. 2018. Cost-effectiveness of nutrition therapy. Nutrition 50:109–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2018.01.001
Cox CE. 2017. Role of physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance. Diabetes Spectr 30(3):157–160. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0013
Creswell WJ, Creswell JD. 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Fifth Edition. Los Angeles (USA): SAGE.
DeJonckheere M, Vaughn LM. 2019. Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Fam Med Community Health 7(2):e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
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Johari MZ. 2019. Strategies and factors influencing weight management in Malaysia. [Doctor of Philosophy]. United Kingdom: Newcastle University.
Johns DJ, Hartmann-Boyc J. Jebb SA, Aveyard P. 2014. Diet or exercise interventions vs combined behavioral weight management programs: A systematic review and meta-analysis of direct comparisons. J Acad Nutr Diet 114(10):1557–1568. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.07.005
Jones RA, Lawlor ER, Birch JM, Patel MI, Werneck AO, Hoare E, Griffin SJ, van Sluijs EMF, Sharp SJ, Ahern AL. 2021. The impact of adult behavioural weight management interventions on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 22(4):e13150. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13150
Kaur J, Kaur M, Chakrapani V, Webster J, Santos JA, Kumar R. 2020. Effectiveness of information technology-enabled “SMART Eating” health promotion intervention: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Plos One 15(1):1–22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225892
Keen S, Lomeli-Rodrigue M, Joffe H. 2022. From challenge to opportunity: Virtual qualitative research during COVID-19 and beyond. Int J Qual Methods 21:16094069221105075. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221105075
Knott E, Rao AH, Summers K, Teegar C. 2022. Interviews in the social sciences. Nat Rev Methods Primers 2(1):73. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6
Leahey TM, LaRose JG, Mitchell MS, Gilder CM, Wing RR. 2018. Small incentives improve weight loss in women from disadvantaged backgrounds. Am J Prev Med 54(3):e41-e47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.11.007
McRobbie H, Hajek P, Peerbux S, Kaha BC, Eldridge S, Trépel D, Parrott S, Griffiths C, Snuggs S, Smith KM. 2019. Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of a task-based weight management group programme. BMC Public Health 19(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6679-3
Meshram I, Boiroju NK, Longvah T. 2022. Prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension and its associated factors among women from Northeast India. Indian Heart J 74(1):56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2021.12.009
Michopoulou E, Jauniškis P. 2020. Exploring the relationship between food and spirituality: A literature review. International Int J Hosp Manag 87:102494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102494
Moghadam MT, Taati B, Paydar Ardakani SM, Suzuki K. 2021. Ramadan fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic; Observance of health, nutrition and exercise criteria for improving the immune system. Front Nutr 7(570235):1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.570235
Nitschke E, Gottesman K, Hamlett P, Mattar L, Robinson J, Tovar A, Rozga M. 2022. Impact of nutrition and physical activity interventions provided by nutrition and exercise practitioners for the adult general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 14(9):1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091729
Nowell LS, Norris JM, White DE, Moules NJ. 2017. Thematic analysis: striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. Int J Qual Methods 16(1):1609406917733847. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
O’Connor EA, Evans CV, Rushkin MC, Redmond N, Lin JS. 2020. Behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults with cardiovascular risk factors: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US preventive services task force. Jama 324(20):2076–2094. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.17108
Ongan D, Kuş AD, Ongan E, Kiliç D. 2019. Results of an adult weight-management program and reflections as the influence of weight on quality of life in patients with obesity. Prog Nutr 21(4):943–951. https://doi.org/10.23751/pn.v21i4.7764
Patel R, Lycett D, Coufopoulos, Turner, A. 2017. A feasibility study of taste & see: A church based programme to develop a healthy relationship with food. Religions 8(2):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8020029
Petridou A, Siopi A, Mougios V. 2019. Exercise in the management of obesity. Metab.: Clin Exp 92:163–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.10.009
Rajan TM, Menon V. 2017. Psychiatric disorders and obesity: A review of association studies. J Postgrad Med 63(3):182–190. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_712_16
Rogers P. 2014. Theory of Change, Methodological Briefs: Impact Evaluation 2. Florence (IT): UNICEF Office of Research.
Sadeghirad B, Motaghipisheh S, Kolahdooz F, Zahedi MJ, Haghdoost AA. 2014. Islamic fasting and weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr 17(2):396–406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012005046
Solmon MA. 2015. Optimizing the role of physical education in promoting physical activity: A social-ecological approach. Res Q Exercise Sport 86(4):329–337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2015.1091712
Sutcliffe K, Melendez-Torres GJ, Burchett HE, Richardson M, Rees R, Thomas J. 2018. The importance of service-users’ perspectives: A systematic review of qualitative evidence reveals overlooked critical features of weight management programmes. Health Expect 21(3):563–573. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fhex.12657
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Suhaimi T, Tarek SWWSS, Rasdi HFM, Abd Talib R. 2022. Models and theories to support health promotion programmes for overweight and obese adults: A scoping review. Malays J Nutr 28(3):335–355. https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2021-0126
Tsai FJ, Hu YJ, Yeh GL, Chen CY, Tseng CC, Chen SC. 2020. The effectiveness of a health promotion intervention on the meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being among undergraduate nursing students: One-group experimental study. Medicine 99(10):e19470. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000019470
Yusof FB, Bin WS, Hassan W, Tahar ASB, Amiruddin SB. 2017. The understanding of Terengganu muslim community concerning health care practice of prophet Muhammad SAW. Int J Acad Res Bus Soc Sci 7(10):2222–6990. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i10/3378
Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Miranda R, Gwaltney CJ, Emerson JA, Monti, PM, Parisi AF. 2015. Recommending self-paced exercise among overweight and obese adults: A randomized pilot study. Ann Behav Med 49(2):280–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9642-7
Winik CL, Bonham CE. 2018. Weight management: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum 53(1):93–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12220
[WHO] World Health Organization. 2024. Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight [Accessed 3rd July 2024].
Wulansari A, Martianto D, Farida Baliwati Y. 2016. Estimasi kerugian ekonomi akibat obesitas pada orang dewasa di Indonesia. J Gizi Pangan 11(2):159–168.
Bandura A. 1996. Health promotion from the perspective of social cognitive theory. Psychology & Health 13(4):623–649. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870449808407422
Bojd B, Song X, Tan Y, Yan X. 2022. Gamified challenges in online weight-loss communities. Inf Syst Res 33(2):718–736. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2021.1081
Braun V, Clarke V. 2021. Can i use TA? Should i use TA? Should i not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Couns Psychother Res 21(1):37–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12360
Brown CA, Revette AC, de Ferranti SD, Fontenot HB, Gooding HC. 2021. Conducting web-based focus groups with adolescents and young adults. Int J Qual Methods 20:1609406921996872. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406921996872
Buhari SS, Radzuan NN, Zafirah N, Rahman A, Ahir NM, Ilias K, Yusof SM. 2022. Effectiveness of weight loss program among young adults using diet and physical activity approach. Healthscope: The Official Research Book of Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM 5(1):80–87.
Claridge R, Gray L, Stubbe M, Macdonald L, Tester R, Dowell AC. 2014. General practitioner opinion of weight management interventions in New Zealand. J Prim Health Care 6(3):212–220. https://doi.org/10.1071/HC14212
Correia MITD. 2018. Cost-effectiveness of nutrition therapy. Nutrition 50:109–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2018.01.001
Cox CE. 2017. Role of physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance. Diabetes Spectr 30(3):157–160. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0013
Creswell WJ, Creswell JD. 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Fifth Edition. Los Angeles (USA): SAGE.
DeJonckheere M, Vaughn LM. 2019. Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Fam Med Community Health 7(2):e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
De Lorenzo A, Romano L, Di Renzo L, Di Lorenzo N, Cenname, Gualtieri P. 2020. Obesity: A preventable, treatable, but relapsing disease. Nutrition 71:110615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2019.110615
Diana R, Nurdi NM, Anwar F, Riyadi H, Khomsan, A. 2018. Risk factors of hypertension among adult in rural Indonesia. J Gizi Pangan 13(3):111–116. https://doi.org/10.25182/jgp.2018.13.3.111-116
Guest G, Namey E, Chen M. 2020. A simple method to assess and report thematic saturation in qualitative research. Plos One 15(5):e0232076. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232076
Institute for Public Health. 2024. Fact Sheet National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023. Ministry of Health. https://iku.nih.gov.my/images/nhms2023/fact-sheet-nhms-2023.pdf [Accessed 30 June 2024].
Jessen-Winge C, Ilvig PM, Thilsing T, Lee K, Fritz H, Christensen JR. 2020. Health professionals’ perceptions of weight loss programmes and recommendations for future implementation: A qualitative study. BMJ Open 10(11):e039667. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039667
Johari MZ. 2019. Strategies and factors influencing weight management in Malaysia. [Doctor of Philosophy]. United Kingdom: Newcastle University.
Johns DJ, Hartmann-Boyc J. Jebb SA, Aveyard P. 2014. Diet or exercise interventions vs combined behavioral weight management programs: A systematic review and meta-analysis of direct comparisons. J Acad Nutr Diet 114(10):1557–1568. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.07.005
Jones RA, Lawlor ER, Birch JM, Patel MI, Werneck AO, Hoare E, Griffin SJ, van Sluijs EMF, Sharp SJ, Ahern AL. 2021. The impact of adult behavioural weight management interventions on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 22(4):e13150. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13150
Kaur J, Kaur M, Chakrapani V, Webster J, Santos JA, Kumar R. 2020. Effectiveness of information technology-enabled “SMART Eating” health promotion intervention: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Plos One 15(1):1–22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225892
Keen S, Lomeli-Rodrigue M, Joffe H. 2022. From challenge to opportunity: Virtual qualitative research during COVID-19 and beyond. Int J Qual Methods 21:16094069221105075. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221105075
Knott E, Rao AH, Summers K, Teegar C. 2022. Interviews in the social sciences. Nat Rev Methods Primers 2(1):73. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6
Leahey TM, LaRose JG, Mitchell MS, Gilder CM, Wing RR. 2018. Small incentives improve weight loss in women from disadvantaged backgrounds. Am J Prev Med 54(3):e41-e47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.11.007
McRobbie H, Hajek P, Peerbux S, Kaha BC, Eldridge S, Trépel D, Parrott S, Griffiths C, Snuggs S, Smith KM. 2019. Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of a task-based weight management group programme. BMC Public Health 19(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6679-3
Meshram I, Boiroju NK, Longvah T. 2022. Prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension and its associated factors among women from Northeast India. Indian Heart J 74(1):56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2021.12.009
Michopoulou E, Jauniškis P. 2020. Exploring the relationship between food and spirituality: A literature review. International Int J Hosp Manag 87:102494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102494
Moghadam MT, Taati B, Paydar Ardakani SM, Suzuki K. 2021. Ramadan fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic; Observance of health, nutrition and exercise criteria for improving the immune system. Front Nutr 7(570235):1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.570235
Nitschke E, Gottesman K, Hamlett P, Mattar L, Robinson J, Tovar A, Rozga M. 2022. Impact of nutrition and physical activity interventions provided by nutrition and exercise practitioners for the adult general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 14(9):1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091729
Nowell LS, Norris JM, White DE, Moules NJ. 2017. Thematic analysis: striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. Int J Qual Methods 16(1):1609406917733847. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
O’Connor EA, Evans CV, Rushkin MC, Redmond N, Lin JS. 2020. Behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults with cardiovascular risk factors: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US preventive services task force. Jama 324(20):2076–2094. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.17108
Ongan D, Kuş AD, Ongan E, Kiliç D. 2019. Results of an adult weight-management program and reflections as the influence of weight on quality of life in patients with obesity. Prog Nutr 21(4):943–951. https://doi.org/10.23751/pn.v21i4.7764
Patel R, Lycett D, Coufopoulos, Turner, A. 2017. A feasibility study of taste & see: A church based programme to develop a healthy relationship with food. Religions 8(2):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8020029
Petridou A, Siopi A, Mougios V. 2019. Exercise in the management of obesity. Metab.: Clin Exp 92:163–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.10.009
Rajan TM, Menon V. 2017. Psychiatric disorders and obesity: A review of association studies. J Postgrad Med 63(3):182–190. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_712_16
Rogers P. 2014. Theory of Change, Methodological Briefs: Impact Evaluation 2. Florence (IT): UNICEF Office of Research.
Sadeghirad B, Motaghipisheh S, Kolahdooz F, Zahedi MJ, Haghdoost AA. 2014. Islamic fasting and weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr 17(2):396–406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012005046
Solmon MA. 2015. Optimizing the role of physical education in promoting physical activity: A social-ecological approach. Res Q Exercise Sport 86(4):329–337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2015.1091712
Sutcliffe K, Melendez-Torres GJ, Burchett HE, Richardson M, Rees R, Thomas J. 2018. The importance of service-users’ perspectives: A systematic review of qualitative evidence reveals overlooked critical features of weight management programmes. Health Expect 21(3):563–573. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fhex.12657
Steinhauser KE, Fitchett G, Handzo GF, Johnson KS, Koenig HG, Pargament, KI, Puchalski CM, Sinclair S, Taylor EJ, Balboni TA. 2017. State of the science of spirituality and palliative care research part I: Definitions, measurement, and outcomes. J Pain Symptom Manag 54(3):428–440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.07.028
Suhaimi T, Tarek SWWSS, Rasdi HFM, Abd Talib R. 2022. Models and theories to support health promotion programmes for overweight and obese adults: A scoping review. Malays J Nutr 28(3):335–355. https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2021-0126
Tsai FJ, Hu YJ, Yeh GL, Chen CY, Tseng CC, Chen SC. 2020. The effectiveness of a health promotion intervention on the meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being among undergraduate nursing students: One-group experimental study. Medicine 99(10):e19470. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000019470
Yusof FB, Bin WS, Hassan W, Tahar ASB, Amiruddin SB. 2017. The understanding of Terengganu muslim community concerning health care practice of prophet Muhammad SAW. Int J Acad Res Bus Soc Sci 7(10):2222–6990. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i10/3378
Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Miranda R, Gwaltney CJ, Emerson JA, Monti, PM, Parisi AF. 2015. Recommending self-paced exercise among overweight and obese adults: A randomized pilot study. Ann Behav Med 49(2):280–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9642-7
Winik CL, Bonham CE. 2018. Weight management: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum 53(1):93–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12220
[WHO] World Health Organization. 2024. Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight [Accessed 3rd July 2024].
Wulansari A, Martianto D, Farida Baliwati Y. 2016. Estimasi kerugian ekonomi akibat obesitas pada orang dewasa di Indonesia. J Gizi Pangan 11(2):159–168.
Authors
SuhaimiT., Mohd RasdiH. F., & Abd TalibR. (2024). Practitioner’s Perspective on Activities and Outcomes of the Weight Management Program: A Qualitative Study. Jurnal Gizi Dan Pangan, 19(3), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.25182/jgp.2024.19.3.157-166
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