Five Vital Components in an Occupational Therapy-Based Municipal Weight Loss Program Obtained Through Research...

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Public health
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Over 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese globally.
• Current weight loss programs often lack sustainability and are criticized for individualistic approaches.
• Occupational therapy's holistic perspective is proposed for transdisciplinary weight loss interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify strategies supporting five essential components of a weight loss program: diet, physical activity, social relations, habits, and life balance.
• To ensure weight loss strategies are integrated into the daily lives of individuals with obesity.
• To inform the development of a more effective and sustainable occupational therapy-based weight loss program.

Main Methods:

• Participatory design utilizing research circle (RC) methodology.
• Two RCs were formed: one with occupational therapists and one with individuals with obesity.
• Qualitative content analysis of data gathered over four months through democratic principles.

Main Results:

• Five emergent themes guided strategy development: (1) Diet: finding balance, (2) Physical activity: stepping out of comfort zones, (3) Social relations: building collective strength, (4) Habits: focusing on possibilities, and (5) Life balance: managing challenges.
• Key strategies include mindful eating, gradual physical activity progression, involving social support networks, and utilizing replacement activities.
• Life balance emerged as an overarching component, emphasizing meaning and variation in activities for sustained weight management.

Conclusions:

• Effective weight loss strategies must address diet, physical activity, social connections, habits, and life balance holistically.
• Integrating these components into daily life through practical, supportive strategies is crucial for long-term success.
• Occupational therapy's role is vital in facilitating a transdisciplinary approach to sustainable weight management.