More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers
Authors: Greener, J., Douglas, F. and van Teijlingen, E.
Journal: Social Science and Medicine
Volume: 70
Issue: 7
Pages: 1042-1049
ISSN: 0277-9536
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.017
Abstract:This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted in the United Kingdom of the perceptions of overweight individuals, as well as health professionals and policy makers working in the area of obesity prevention and weight management. In 2006-2007, we conducted interviews with 34 men and women (18-50 years old) who self identified as being overweight; 20 health professionals; and 9 policy makers. We explored their understandings of the causes of obesity/overweight; beliefs about factors that enabled or inhibited weight loss/gain; and opinions regarding effective obesity/overweight interventions. We found a range of views, which corresponded with biomedical and socio-ecological perspectives of health and disease.The lay overweight respondents viewed the problem of obesity arising from their personal shortcomings (i.e. motivational and physical), juxtaposed to blame-absolving accounts often involving specific challenges associated with day-to-day living. All respondents presented personal stories of complex battles of short-term weight loss and longer-term weight gain, usually characterised by a sense of failure. All expressed a strong sense of personal responsibility to overcome their weight problems, and looked to another not-yet-tried, technocratic weight loss programme to address the problem, despite all reporting past failures.Health professionals and policy makers on the other hand viewed obesity as a socio-ecologically determined problem, detailing social and environmental explanations. Health professionals were more inclined towards individual-orientated weight management interventions as effective responses. Policy makers considered environmental and social policy changes as most likely to make a substantial difference to current obesity trends, but considered it unlikely that such policies would be implemented without the political will and popular support. Our data highlight dissonance between policy maker, health professional and public obesity perceptions and points to a challenge for those who believe that wholesale systemic change is required if obesity trends are to be reduced or halted. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
Source: Scopus
More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers.
Authors: Greener, J., Douglas, F. and van Teijlingen, E.
Journal: Soc Sci Med
Volume: 70
Issue: 7
Pages: 1042-1049
eISSN: 1873-5347
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.017
Abstract:This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted in the United Kingdom of the perceptions of overweight individuals, as well as health professionals and policy makers working in the area of obesity prevention and weight management. In 2006-2007, we conducted interviews with 34 men and women (18-50 years old) who self identified as being overweight; 20 health professionals; and 9 policy makers. We explored their understandings of the causes of obesity/overweight; beliefs about factors that enabled or inhibited weight loss/gain; and opinions regarding effective obesity/overweight interventions. We found a range of views, which corresponded with biomedical and socio-ecological perspectives of health and disease. The lay overweight respondents viewed the problem of obesity arising from their personal shortcomings (i.e. motivational and physical), juxtaposed to blame-absolving accounts often involving specific challenges associated with day-to-day living. All respondents presented personal stories of complex battles of short-term weight loss and longer-term weight gain, usually characterised by a sense of failure. All expressed a strong sense of personal responsibility to overcome their weight problems, and looked to another not-yet-tried, technocratic weight loss programme to address the problem, despite all reporting past failures. Health professionals and policy makers on the other hand viewed obesity as a socio-ecologically determined problem, detailing social and environmental explanations. Health professionals were more inclined towards individual-orientated weight management interventions as effective responses. Policy makers considered environmental and social policy changes as most likely to make a substantial difference to current obesity trends, but considered it unlikely that such policies would be implemented without the political will and popular support. Our data highlight dissonance between policy maker, health professional and public obesity perceptions and points to a challenge for those who believe that wholesale systemic change is required if obesity trends are to be reduced or halted.
Source: PubMed
More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers
Authors: Greener, J., Douglas, F. and van Teijlingen, E.
Journal: SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Volume: 70
Issue: 7
Pages: 1042-1049
eISSN: 1873-5347
ISSN: 0277-9536
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.017
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers.
Authors: Greener, J., Douglas, F. and van Teijlingen, E.
Journal: Social Science & Medicine
Volume: 70
Pages: 2986-2997
ISSN: 0277-9536
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.017
Abstract:This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted in the United Kingdom of the perceptions of overweight individuals, as well as health professionals and policy makers working in the area of obesity prevention and weight management. In 2006–2007, we conducted interviews with 34 men and women (18–50 years old) who self identified as being overweight; 20 health professionals; and 9 policy makers. We explored their understandings of the causes of obesity/overweight; beliefs about factors that enabled or inhibited weight loss/gain; and opinions regarding effective obesity/overweight interventions. We found a range of views, which corresponded with biomedical and socio-ecological perspectives of health and disease.
The lay overweight respondents viewed the problem of obesity arising from their personal shortcomings (i.e. motivational and physical), juxtaposed to blame-absolving accounts often involving specific challenges associated with day-to-day living. All respondents presented personal stories of complex battles of short-term weight loss and longer-term weight gain, usually characterised by a sense of failure. All expressed a strong sense of personal responsibility to overcome their weight problems, and looked to another not-yet-tried, technocratic weight loss programme to address the problem, despite all reporting past failures.
Health professionals and policy makers on the other hand viewed obesity as a socio-ecologically determined problem, detailing social and environmental explanations. Health professionals were more inclined towards individual-orientated weight management interventions as effective responses. Policy makers considered environmental and social policy changes as most likely to make a substantial difference to current obesity trends, but considered it unlikely that such policies would be implemented without the political will and popular support. Our data highlight dissonance between policy maker, health professional and public obesity perceptions and points to a challenge for those who believe that wholesale systemic change is required if obesity trends are to be reduced or halted.
Source: Manual
Preferred by: Edwin van Teijlingen
More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers.
Authors: Greener, J., Douglas, F. and van Teijlingen, E.
Journal: Social science & medicine (1982)
Volume: 70
Issue: 7
Pages: 1042-1049
eISSN: 1873-5347
ISSN: 0277-9536
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.017
Abstract:This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted in the United Kingdom of the perceptions of overweight individuals, as well as health professionals and policy makers working in the area of obesity prevention and weight management. In 2006-2007, we conducted interviews with 34 men and women (18-50 years old) who self identified as being overweight; 20 health professionals; and 9 policy makers. We explored their understandings of the causes of obesity/overweight; beliefs about factors that enabled or inhibited weight loss/gain; and opinions regarding effective obesity/overweight interventions. We found a range of views, which corresponded with biomedical and socio-ecological perspectives of health and disease. The lay overweight respondents viewed the problem of obesity arising from their personal shortcomings (i.e. motivational and physical), juxtaposed to blame-absolving accounts often involving specific challenges associated with day-to-day living. All respondents presented personal stories of complex battles of short-term weight loss and longer-term weight gain, usually characterised by a sense of failure. All expressed a strong sense of personal responsibility to overcome their weight problems, and looked to another not-yet-tried, technocratic weight loss programme to address the problem, despite all reporting past failures. Health professionals and policy makers on the other hand viewed obesity as a socio-ecologically determined problem, detailing social and environmental explanations. Health professionals were more inclined towards individual-orientated weight management interventions as effective responses. Policy makers considered environmental and social policy changes as most likely to make a substantial difference to current obesity trends, but considered it unlikely that such policies would be implemented without the political will and popular support. Our data highlight dissonance between policy maker, health professional and public obesity perceptions and points to a challenge for those who believe that wholesale systemic change is required if obesity trends are to be reduced or halted.
Source: Europe PubMed Central