title: Dietary advice on prescription: experiences with a weight reduction programme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe overweight persons' experiences with weight reduction and participation in the dietary advice on prescription.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Approximately 20% of overweight individuals are able to successfully lose weight. Experiences from earlier weight reduction programmes indicate that those who succeed typically manage to avoid overeating to handle stress and have high motivation to lose weight. Those who fail have low self-control and engage in negative health behaviours such as eating when experiencing negative emotions and stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a descriptive qualitative design and was conducted at a Primary Health Care Centre in south-west Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first nineteen study participants who completed the weight reduction programme in two years responded in writing to five open questions about their experiences with the programme. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants appreciated the face-to-face meetings with the nurse because they felt seen and listened to during these sessions. They also felt their life situations and self-discipline had an impact on how well they were able to follow the programme. Dietary advice on prescription advice was considered to be helpful for achieving behavioural changes and losing weight. People who succeeded in sustainably losing weight described the importance of support from partners or close friends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To achieve sustainable weight reduction, it is important to individualise the programme in order to address each person's life situation and the unique difficulties they may encounter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motivational interviewing appears to be a good technique for developing a successful relationship between the nurse and the patient. The dietary advice on prescription advice was perceived to be a good way to improve food habits and can easily be used at many Primary Health Care Centres. Patient's partners should also be offered the opportunity to participate in the programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bräutigam-Ewe
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lydell
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hildingh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009765:Obesity / Q000451:nursing*; D050177:Overweight / Q000451:nursing*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D013548:Sweden; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: experiences; life situation; obesity; primary health care