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Older adults with obesity suffer struggles and social stigmas by being social care
Recent research reveals that elderly individuals with obesity often experience judgment and dismissal from healthcare providers because of their weight, causing them to avoid seeking necessary assistance.
Study methodology and findings
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of West London conducted detailed interviews with 33 older adults for this qualitative investigation, with results published in PLOS One.
Participants described their experiences with both formal healthcare services and informal support networks, revealing significant care shortfalls linked to obesity-related challenges.
Barriers to care access
Beyond avoiding help due to fears of negative judgment, respondents identified practical obstacles where standard medical equipment and healthcare facilities prove inadequate for people with higher body weights, creating insufficient care delivery.
The intersection of physical constraints and social prejudice fostered isolation and diminished self-esteem among study participants. Economic difficulties emerged as another significant unaddressed concern, with one participant losing full-time employment due to obesity-related pain.
Emotional and practical challenges
Those with more severe obesity described unaddressed needs centered on psychological distress, encompassing stress, anger, social prejudice, loneliness, feeling burdensome to others, insufficient home modifications for safety, monotony, inability to pursue interests, and restricted support access.
Framework for improvement
The research introduces a novel framework for comprehending the unaddressed care requirements of older adults with obesity. Through pinpointing these service gaps, the framework could assist care providers in developing superior health and social services while identifying cost-effective preventive interventions.
Current data from the Health Survey for England, released in September, indicates that 36% of adults between 55-64 years old and 35% of those aged 64-74 were managing obesity in 2022.
Call for inclusive care
The findings emphasize the critical need for more comprehensive social care approaches that acknowledge and tackle the particular obstacles confronting older adults with obesity.
Older adults with obesity face unique challenges in accessing and receiving appropriate social care. Despite growing concerns over obesity's impact on health, its influence on social care needs among this demographic remains underexplored.
The hidden challenges faced by these individuals often go unrecognised, leading to unmet need and increased vulnerability. As the population ages and obesity rates continue to rise, it is imperative that our social care systems adapt to meet these evolving needs.
Our research makes clear the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals to better support older adults with obesity, with policy reforms, training programmes that address weight bias and the development of care plans that address the specific barriers faced by this group."
Dr. Gargi Ghosh, Lead Author, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
Source:
Journal reference:
Ghosh, G., et al. (2025). A qualitative study to examine hidden care burden for older adults with overweight and obesity in England. PLoS ONE. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320253.
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