A qualitative exploration of service users' experiences of weight management conversations in a mental health setting

Healthcare professionals often use opportunistic weight management conversations, aligned with the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) approach, to provide motivational support to service users. While research supports this practice from the professionals' perspective, the views of service users on these interactions remain understudied. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of service users with serious mental illness regarding weight management conversations with healthcare professionals.

Thirteen service users with serious mental illness (Nine inpatient, four community-based) participated in semi-structured 1-1 interviews exploring weight management support experiences. Transcript data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Five key themes were developed: service users' experience of weight management conversations, developing therapeutic relationships, support for physical activity and weight management, deliverer characteristic preferences, and user descriptions of MECC.

Service users reported a lack of information about medication-related weight gain and suggested further staff training to improve therapeutic relationships and weight management support for service users with serious mental illness.

This study uniquely explores service users' perspectives on weight management conversations within mental health care, applying MECC in a novel context. It highlights the perspective of individuals with serious mental illness on weight-related issues, challenging existing practices, and proposing strategies for integrating physical health support in mental health settings.