Understanding overweight and obesity: contemporary evidence-based approaches to delivering person-centred nursing care

There has been a significant transformation in the way that obesity is conceptualised, moving away from notions of individual responsibility and moral failure towards acceptance that it is a complex, progressive and relapsing chronic disease. The way in which obesity is defined or understood has significant implications for clinical practice and patient care. Therefore, it is essential that nurses continue to develop their knowledge of obesity-related theory, practice and clinical guidelines to enable them to provide compassionate, person-centred and evidence-based care and support to patients. This article provides an overview of contemporary concepts of overweight and obesity and the associated influencing factors. The authors also discuss concepts of weight bias and weight stigma and provide practical guidance for nurses on the delivery of person-centred care of individuals with overweight or obesity.