Perceptions of Obesity in Old Age: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction The relationship between obesity and mental health in old age is complex and widely impacted by different biological, psychological, and social factors. Objectives The primary objectives of this qualitative research study are: a) To understand the influence of obesity on older adults’ well-being; b) to assess emotional experiences related to obesity in old age and; c) to explore how obesity influences the mental health of older adults. Methods This study included 346 participants aged 65 to 84 years (M=73.9; SD=5.61) from three different nationalities (English, Spanish, and Portuguese). All interviews went through content analysis. Results This study identified four main themes regarding the influence of obesity on older adults’ well-being: (1) Insatisfaction with Body Image (66%); (2) Feeling embarrassed (65%); (3) Feeling Social Isolated (57%); and (4) Lost Opportunities (46%)Three main themes for emotional experiences were frequently verbalized by the participants: (1) Shame (81%); (2) Guilt (78%); and (2) Incompetence (76%). Finally, three main influences in mental health due to obesity were reported: (1) Self-concept (88%); (2) Stress (78%); and (3) Melancholia (63%). Conclusions These results highlighted that obesity negatively influences older adults’ well-being and emotional experiences and has serious mental health-related negative outcomes for older adults. Interventions like community-based weight loss programs can be effective in controlling weight and improving the social interaction of obese older adults. Keywords: Emotional experiences; mental health; obesity; older adults; well-being. Disclosure of Interest None Declared