Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK
As a complex condition that often arises due to numerous social, environmental and political factors, “obesity” can be understood by healthcare providers as a health outcome that is directly linked to issues that are outside of individual control. UK GPs who participated in a series of focus groups...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001099 |
| _version_ | 1797400810424893440 |
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| author | Tanisha Jemma Rose Spratt Anisa Hajizadeh Laura Heath Maryam Kebbe Paul Aveyard |
| author_facet | Tanisha Jemma Rose Spratt Anisa Hajizadeh Laura Heath Maryam Kebbe Paul Aveyard |
| author_sort | Tanisha Jemma Rose Spratt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As a complex condition that often arises due to numerous social, environmental and political factors, “obesity” can be understood by healthcare providers as a health outcome that is directly linked to issues that are outside of individual control. UK GPs who participated in a series of focus groups examining attitudes about the role of individual responsibility in weight loss often demonstrated contradictory beliefs when asked about the relationship between obesity, personal responsibility and their patients’ (in)ability to take individual action. Whilst GPs who practised in affluent areas were more likely to draw connections between poverty and high rates of obesity, GPs who practised in disadvantaged areas were more likely to discuss the need for all patients to assume personal responsibility for their health behaviours regardless of their individual circumstances. This article examines how GPs from both groups conceptualised personal responsibility in relation to their patients’ weight and socioeconomic circumstances. We conclude by outlining the need for GPs to demonstrate empathy when engaging in weight-loss discussions with patients and offer practical support for patients who seek it that is mindful of their material circumstances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2c41425db3846f8bb4d74a5593e4553 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2c41425db3846f8bb4d74a5593e45532023-12-08T04:47:10ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152023-12-014100325Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UKTanisha Jemma Rose Spratt0Anisa Hajizadeh1Laura Heath2Maryam Kebbe3Paul Aveyard4Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King’s College London, Bush House, 40 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG, UK; Corresponding author.Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UKNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UKPennington Biomedical Research Centre, Louisiana State University, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, United StatesNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UKAs a complex condition that often arises due to numerous social, environmental and political factors, “obesity” can be understood by healthcare providers as a health outcome that is directly linked to issues that are outside of individual control. UK GPs who participated in a series of focus groups examining attitudes about the role of individual responsibility in weight loss often demonstrated contradictory beliefs when asked about the relationship between obesity, personal responsibility and their patients’ (in)ability to take individual action. Whilst GPs who practised in affluent areas were more likely to draw connections between poverty and high rates of obesity, GPs who practised in disadvantaged areas were more likely to discuss the need for all patients to assume personal responsibility for their health behaviours regardless of their individual circumstances. This article examines how GPs from both groups conceptualised personal responsibility in relation to their patients’ weight and socioeconomic circumstances. We conclude by outlining the need for GPs to demonstrate empathy when engaging in weight-loss discussions with patients and offer practical support for patients who seek it that is mindful of their material circumstances.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001099ObesityPublic health policyNeoliberalismHealthism |
| spellingShingle | Tanisha Jemma Rose Spratt Anisa Hajizadeh Laura Heath Maryam Kebbe Paul Aveyard Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Obesity Public health policy Neoliberalism Healthism |
| title | Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK |
| title_full | Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK |
| title_fullStr | Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK |
| title_short | Conceptualising lifestyle “choices:” A qualitative study of GP attitudes towards patients living with “obesity” in the UK |
| title_sort | conceptualising lifestyle choices a qualitative study of gp attitudes towards patients living with obesity in the uk |
| topic | Obesity Public health policy Neoliberalism Healthism |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001099 |
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