Being active when living within a large body : experiences during lifestyle intervention
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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2020Metadata
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Toft, B. S., Galvin, K., Nielsen, C. V. & Uhrenfeldt, L. (2020). Being active when living within a large body: experiences during lifestyle intervention. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 15(1): 1736769. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2020.1736769Abstract
Background: In-depth understanding of the experiences of both well-being and suffering in relation to being severely obese and becoming active through lifestyle intervention is lacking.
Aim: to explore and describe adults’ existential experiences of being active, when living within a large body—before and during a lifestyle intervention.
Methods: A longitudinal design of repeated individual interviews with 16 adults with BMI ≥40, based on hermeneutic phenomenology, existential philosophy and a theory of well-being was performed. The study was approved by the Danish health authorities.
Results: Two dimensions of experiences were found; “Living within a downward spiral” and “Striving for enjoyment and settlement”. The themes describing suffering were: ‘Sense of being thwarted and defeated ‘ and “Tackling energy depletion and impact of sense of self”. The themes describing well-being were: “Hoping for renewal and energised resoluteness” and “Enduring discomfort and feeling safe”.
Conclusions: Interacting existential experiences can be facilitators or barriers for physical activity. It seems relevant for health care providers to address the individual’s lifeworld experiences of well-being, lack of well-being and suffering. Well-being as a sense of feeling “at home” when physically active may break down an inactivity spiral. Promoting well-being is a legitimate aim of lifestyle intervention.