‘Addressing spirituality with healthy eating education works:’ participants’ experiences of a Christian weight management programme

Abstract

Background:  Obesity treatment is a high priority globally. Quantitative evidence suggests holistic approaches, which include a spiritual element are promising. Qualitative evidence which seeks to develop an understanding of why a spiritual element is important to participants in these programmes is very limited. Christian church-based interventions have been successful in the USA, but have never before been explored in the UK. Objective: To explore participants’ experience and acceptability of a Christian, church-based, healthy intuitive eating programme in the UK.    Methods: An exploratory multi-method qualitative approach was used to collect data. Fifteen participants took part in semi-structured interviews after completing the programme. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis and NVivo 10 software was used.   Findings: Deductive coding and thematic analysis demonstrated 3 key themes. (1) When freedom and food collide, (2) ‘God’s love as a catalyst for self-love, (3) ‘Spirituality and education about healthy eating works’ Discussion:  Participating in a Christian weight management programme was a unique but welcomed experience for the participants. Applying their faith to their existing struggles with food was not something they had previously considered, however participants’ discourses suggested that this is a component they related well to, and suggested that this turned out to provide a new motivator for behaviour change.