Compassionate discourses within a weight management service.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Negotiating compassionate and medical discourses in relation to obesity in a weight management service.
IRAS ID
215446
Contact name
Emma Newton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 4 days
Research summary
Rates of obesity in the UK are continuing to rise. Obesity is associated with higher risks of various health conditions including diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, mental health difficulties and a lower quality of life. Obesity is a complex condition with a range of contributing factors including genetics, physiology, metabolism, environment, psychological, social and cultural. Treatment often focuses on various combinations of dietary monitoring, increasing activity levels, behavioural interventions, medication and potentially surgery. Therefore, weight management services are usually comprised of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Addressing individual psychosocial factors contributing to obesity can be an important factor in achieving long-term weight loss. Further research is needed into psychological approaches to obesity and how these integrate into the wider MDT approaches.
Within psychology there has been growing interest in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). This approach has been applied to various mental health difficulties. More recently it has been specifically adapted to support people with obesity. The Livewell Southwest Weight Management Service has been piloting a CFT group within their two year multi-faceted weight management program for people with obesity. The CFT group facilitated by the Clinical Psychologist runs for 8 weeks with approximately 10 participants.
This qualitative research explores discussion of compassion during review meetings between service users and their keyworker. Audio recordings of the appointment will influence how service users subsequently engage with members of the MDT. be transcribed and the words used examined in detail using discursive psychology and conversational analysis. This research is observational with no changes to the usual review appointments. The research explores how participants talk about compassion. This research has implications for understanding how attending the CFT group may
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
17/WA/0119
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion