Qualitative studies of obesity: A review of methodology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is\ra developing interest in qualitative research to understand\rthe perspectives and experiences of people\rliving with obesity. However, obesity is a stigmatised condition associated\rwith negative stereotypes. Social contexts emphasizing large body size as a\rproblem, including research interviews, may amplify obesity\rstigma. This study reviews the methodology\remployed by qualitative studies in which study participants were obese and data\rcollection involved face-to-face interviews. METHODS: Database searches\ridentified qualitative studies meeting inclusion criteria from 1995 to 2012.\rFollowing screening and appraisal data were systematically extracted and analyzed\rfrom 31 studies. RESULTS: The studies included 1206 participants with a mean age of 44 years\rand mean BMI of37 kg/m2.\rWomen (78.8%) outnumbered men (21.2%) by four to one. Socio-economic\rbackground was not consistently reported. The studies employed similar,\rtypically pragmatic, qualitative methodologies, providing rich textual data\ron the experience of obesity derived from face-to-face interviews. The majority\rconsidered quality issues in data collection, analyses and generalizability\rof findings. However, the studies were weak as regards researcher reflexivity\rin relation to interviewer characteristics and obesity stigma. CONCLUSIONS:\rThe impact of obesity stigma has not been attended to in the qualitative research. Clear information about\rstudy participants is essential, but studies\rinvolving face-to-face interviews should also report on\rinterviewer characteristics including body size.