Perceived Barriers to Weight Loss: A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Women with Obesity in Shiraz

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a public health issue, leading to many medical and socially unacceptable complications. To combat obesity, going on a diet is a routineprescription by dieticians. Although men and women with obesity are equallyadvised to lose their body weight, almost in all societies women are more adhered totheir prescribed diets. However, some of weight reducing diets seems neithereffective nor long lasting. This study aimed to assess perceived barriers to weightlossprograms among women with obesity in Shiraz. Methods: This qualitative studywas conducted in 2017 in Shiraz. To fulfill the objectives of the study, eight semistructuredfocus group discussions (FGDs) and seven in-depth interviews with keyinformants were performed. The eligible participants for FGDs were women withobesity who were not satisfied with their diet and were selected through a public callin Shiraz. Results: A total of 1429 initial codes were obtained from FGDs, and aftercategorizing, four main barriers were resulted. Dietary, socio-cultural, supportivepsychological,and economic issues were identified as the main perceived barriers toweight-loss programs. Conclusion: The study findings provided comprehensiveinformation about the probable causes of diet prescriptions failure, which can assistdietitians to improve the efficacy of their weight management advice in clinics