Barriers and enabling factors in weight management of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A qualitative study using the COM‐B model of behaviour

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health problem. Lifestyle modifications aimed at promoting weight loss and weight maintenance remain the current first‐line treatments for NAFLD. OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify barriers and enabling factors in weight management among patients with NAFLD using the capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour (COM‐B) model of behaviour. DESIGN: This study adopted a qualitative design using semistructured interviews analysed with content analysis and the COM‐B framework. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Interviews were conducted with 27 patients with NAFLD who experienced successful or unsuccessful weight reduction. RESULTS: Our study included 27 participants: 15 participants with successful weight loss (successful weight loss refers to a decrease in body weight ≥7% of the initial body weight for patients with NAFLD) and 12 participants with unsuccessful weight loss. Thirty‐five themes (19 barriers and 16 facilitators) were mapped onto the COM‐B model as barriers and facilitators to weight management among patients with NAFLD. The key barriers were lack of time and energy, lack of awareness of weight, lack of attention to NAFLD, treating food as a reward or compensation and social entertainment. The key facilitators were having basic weight loss knowledge and skills, strong motivation, attention to NAFLD, unsuccessful weight loss experiences and positive feedback from phased success. CONCLUSION: In addition to identifying factors consistent with existing studies, this study identified factors that influence weight management in NAFLD patients, such as basic weight loss skills and rational thinking before weight loss, which were not previously reported. This has clinical implications for clinical healthcare providers and health management services for the improvement of education and support regarding lifestyle improvement and weight management in patients with NAFLD. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: We recruited potential participants from the Bariatric Clinic, Hepatology Clinic and Physical Examination Center of hospitals between March 2021 and October 2021. Twenty‐seven patients with NAFLD who had successful or unsuccessful weight loss experiences participated in the study and responded to questions on weight management.