Weight management needs in under-resourced communities elicited using storyboarding and a realist lens: A qualitative study

Brown, Tracey J., Mahoney, Kate, Naughton, Felix, Tham, Natalie An Qi and Khadjesari, Zarnie (2026) Weight management needs in under-resourced communities elicited using storyboarding and a realist lens: A qualitative study.

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Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are causing growing public health, economic and clinical burden, particularly within under-resourced communities. There is an urgent need to develop an in-depth understanding of experiences of weight management, and preferences for support within under-resourced communities, with a view to developing more effective weight management interventions. Methods: Focus groups were run in under-resourced communities using storyboarding; a method to facilitate inclusive communication (n=37). Thematic analysis was applied to textual and visual data, and a realist ‘lens’ applied to provide in-depth insight into weight management experiences and needs. We believe this is the first study to use this combined methodology to explore weight management experiences and needs. Results: Combining storyboarding with a realist lens, generated four themes. Living circumstances indicated that mental health, individual needs, and cost of weight management services were key contextual factors. Mechanisms of weight management identified emotional eating and portion control to be central to individual weight management. Yo-yo dieting centred on participants’ experiences of weight regain after attempting weight loss. Weight management intervention needs indicated psychological support was perceived as severely lacking, and the only route to attain sustained weight management. Offering both in-person and online support for weight management was considered important to reach more people. Conclusion: Moving weight management support from short- to long-term and incorporating more robust psychological support would better serve the needs of people living in under-resourced communities who are overweight or obese. Ideally interventions should be multicomponent and tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Availability of data and materials: Data supporting the study findings are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions. Participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	overweight,obesity,storyboarding,community-based participatory research,qualitative research,socioeconomic factors
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Related URLs:	https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	23 Feb 2026 11:30
Last Modified:	23 Feb 2026 11:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102007
DOI:

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