EBI-HIV - Exploring overweight and obesity in people living with HIV
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring overweight and obesity in people living with HIV: a qualitative study of patient's and healthcare worker’s perspectives of overweight and obesity in the UK.
IRAS ID
322231
Contact name
Shema Tariq
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Noclor NHS Research
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Overweight and obesity in people living with HIV is reaching levels comparable to that of the general population and there is evidence to suggest that people living with HIV are at greater risk of suffering metabolic and cardiovascular ill-health than those not living with HIV. They may also experience poorer psychosocial well-being due to concerns over body image.
The causes for obesity in people living with HIV are varied, complex and stem from individual influences such as antiretroviral treatment (ART) medication or health behaviour, to higher order environmental influences involving social inequality or cultural norms. For interventions aimed at reducing levels of overweight and obesity to be successful, they will need to consider how intra/inter-personal, institutional, community and policy factors contribute to weight management in people living with HIV. However, there is a lack of in-depth research into the lived experience of overweight and obese people living with HIV.
This qualitative study aims to understand the lived experience of overweight and obesity among people living with HIV by interviewing both patients and healthcare workers about experiences of managing overweight or obesity and the factors which contribute to it. Semi-structured interviews (SSI) taking approximately one hour will take place with patients to explore factors associated with overweight or obesity, perceptions of body image and how they wish to be supported in terms of managing their body shape or weight. One hour SSI’s will also be held with healthcare workers (HCWs) who will be asked about factors associated with overweight or obesity in people living with HIV and what support they would like to offer to their patients. The results of this investigation will go on to inform a larger body of work into acceptability and feasibility of an weight focused intervention in people living with HIV who are overweight or obese.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0032
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion