Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment: Patient Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study

Ebaa Al Ozairi; Dalal Alsaeed; Alvin Mondoh; Etab Taghadom; Mohammad Irshad; Dherar Alroudhan; Jumana Al Kandari; Werd Al-Najim; Carel W le Roux

doi:10.1155/jobe/1461796

Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment: Patient Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study

Ebaa Al Ozairi
, Dalal Alsaeed
, Alvin Mondoh
, Etab Taghadom
, Mohammad Irshad
, Dherar Alroudhan
, Jumana Al Kandari
, Werd Al-Najim
, Carel W le Roux

University College Dublin

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background
Globally, many patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are now characterized by excess adipose tissue and features of insulin resistance. In Kuwait, rapid urbanization, shifts in dietary patterns, and decreased physical activity have contributed to rising obesity prevalence in the general population.

Objectives
We aimed to investigate the interplay between the diseases of obesity and T1D, examining patients' perspectives on why they gained body weight, psychological aspects, and management challenges.

Methods
A mixed-methods approach was employed, encompassing quantitative analysis of body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors among 51 participants with T1D and obesity or obesity-related complications and a thematic analysis of perceptions and experiences related to obesity and T1D using an online survey.

Results
Participants identified lifestyle factors as the primary contributors to obesity, emphasizing the need for holistic interventions. About 56.8% of the participants perceived T1D as a barrier to obesity treatment. The qualitative analysis revealed four themes: 1) negative perceptions about obesity, 2) poor interface with healthcare professionals (HCPs), 3) lack of suggestions for improving obesity management, and 4) poor self-image and awareness. This provided in-depth insights into participants' perceptions, worries, experiences, and suggestions for managing obesity in the context of T1D.

Conclusions
This study contributes a nuanced understanding of obesity in patients with T1D, shedding light on the complexities beyond glycemic control. The findings emphasize the need for patient-centered, multidisciplinary approaches that consider both medical and psychological aspects in the management of obesity within patients with T1D.

Original language	English
Article number	1461796
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Obesity
Volume	2025
Early online date	14 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1155/jobe/1461796
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 14 Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025 Ebaa Al Ozairi et al. Journal of Obesity published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Data Access Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

Funding

SOPHIA has received funding from the Innovative Medicines 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No.875534. Tis Joint Undertaking received support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and EFPIA and T1D Exchange, JDRF, and Obesity Action Coalition

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Obesity
T1d
Body Weight Perceptions
Humans
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Body Mass Index
Life Style
Adult
Middle Aged
Kuwait
Female
Male
Young Adult
Surveys and Questionnaires
T1D
body weight perceptions
obesity
Obesity/therapy
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications
Kuwait/epidemiology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications - psychology
Kuwait - epidemiology
Obesity - therapy - psychology - complications - epidemiology

Access to Document

10.1155/jobe/1461796

Journal of Obesity - 2025 - Al Ozairi - Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment Patient Insights From aFinal published version, 474 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment: Patient Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study",

abstract = "Background Globally, many patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are now characterized by excess adipose tissue and features of insulin resistance. In Kuwait, rapid urbanization, shifts in dietary patterns, and decreased physical activity have contributed to rising obesity prevalence in the general population. Objectives We aimed to investigate the interplay between the diseases of obesity and T1D, examining patients' perspectives on why they gained body weight, psychological aspects, and management challenges. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, encompassing quantitative analysis of body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors among 51 participants with T1D and obesity or obesity-related complications and a thematic analysis of perceptions and experiences related to obesity and T1D using an online survey. Results Participants identified lifestyle factors as the primary contributors to obesity, emphasizing the need for holistic interventions. About 56.8\% of the participants perceived T1D as a barrier to obesity treatment. The qualitative analysis revealed four themes: 1) negative perceptions about obesity, 2) poor interface with healthcare professionals (HCPs), 3) lack of suggestions for improving obesity management, and 4) poor self-image and awareness. This provided in-depth insights into participants' perceptions, worries, experiences, and suggestions for managing obesity in the context of T1D. Conclusions This study contributes a nuanced understanding of obesity in patients with T1D, shedding light on the complexities beyond glycemic control. The findings emphasize the need for patient-centered, multidisciplinary approaches that consider both medical and psychological aspects in the management of obesity within patients with T1D.",

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author = "\{Al Ozairi\}, Ebaa and Dalal Alsaeed and Alvin Mondoh and Etab Taghadom and Mohammad Irshad and Dherar Alroudhan and Kandari, \{Jumana Al\} and Werd Al-Najim and \{le Roux\}, \{Carel W\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 Ebaa Al Ozairi et al. Journal of Obesity published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1155/jobe/1461796",

language = "English",

volume = "2025",

pages = "1--11",

journal = "Journal of Obesity",

issn = "2090-0708",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment: Patient Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study

AU - Al Ozairi, Ebaa

AU - Alsaeed, Dalal

AU - Mondoh, Alvin

AU - Taghadom, Etab

AU - Irshad, Mohammad

AU - Alroudhan, Dherar

AU - Kandari, Jumana Al

AU - Al-Najim, Werd

AU - le Roux, Carel W

PY - 2025/12/14

Y1 - 2025/12/14

N2 - Background Globally, many patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are now characterized by excess adipose tissue and features of insulin resistance. In Kuwait, rapid urbanization, shifts in dietary patterns, and decreased physical activity have contributed to rising obesity prevalence in the general population. Objectives We aimed to investigate the interplay between the diseases of obesity and T1D, examining patients' perspectives on why they gained body weight, psychological aspects, and management challenges. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, encompassing quantitative analysis of body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors among 51 participants with T1D and obesity or obesity-related complications and a thematic analysis of perceptions and experiences related to obesity and T1D using an online survey. Results Participants identified lifestyle factors as the primary contributors to obesity, emphasizing the need for holistic interventions. About 56.8% of the participants perceived T1D as a barrier to obesity treatment. The qualitative analysis revealed four themes: 1) negative perceptions about obesity, 2) poor interface with healthcare professionals (HCPs), 3) lack of suggestions for improving obesity management, and 4) poor self-image and awareness. This provided in-depth insights into participants' perceptions, worries, experiences, and suggestions for managing obesity in the context of T1D. Conclusions This study contributes a nuanced understanding of obesity in patients with T1D, shedding light on the complexities beyond glycemic control. The findings emphasize the need for patient-centered, multidisciplinary approaches that consider both medical and psychological aspects in the management of obesity within patients with T1D.

AB - Background Globally, many patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are now characterized by excess adipose tissue and features of insulin resistance. In Kuwait, rapid urbanization, shifts in dietary patterns, and decreased physical activity have contributed to rising obesity prevalence in the general population. Objectives We aimed to investigate the interplay between the diseases of obesity and T1D, examining patients' perspectives on why they gained body weight, psychological aspects, and management challenges. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, encompassing quantitative analysis of body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors among 51 participants with T1D and obesity or obesity-related complications and a thematic analysis of perceptions and experiences related to obesity and T1D using an online survey. Results Participants identified lifestyle factors as the primary contributors to obesity, emphasizing the need for holistic interventions. About 56.8% of the participants perceived T1D as a barrier to obesity treatment. The qualitative analysis revealed four themes: 1) negative perceptions about obesity, 2) poor interface with healthcare professionals (HCPs), 3) lack of suggestions for improving obesity management, and 4) poor self-image and awareness. This provided in-depth insights into participants' perceptions, worries, experiences, and suggestions for managing obesity in the context of T1D. Conclusions This study contributes a nuanced understanding of obesity in patients with T1D, shedding light on the complexities beyond glycemic control. The findings emphasize the need for patient-centered, multidisciplinary approaches that consider both medical and psychological aspects in the management of obesity within patients with T1D.

KW - Obesity

KW - T1d

KW - Body Weight Perceptions

KW - Humans

KW - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Life Style

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KW - Middle Aged

KW - Kuwait

KW - Female

KW - Male

KW - Young Adult

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - T1D

KW - body weight perceptions

KW - obesity

KW - Obesity/therapy

KW - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications

KW - Kuwait/epidemiology

KW - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications - psychology

KW - Kuwait - epidemiology

KW - Obesity - therapy - psychology - complications - epidemiology

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024799071

U2 - 10.1155/jobe/1461796

DO - 10.1155/jobe/1461796

M3 - Article

C2 - 41497311

SN - 2090-0708

VL - 2025

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - Journal of Obesity

JF - Journal of Obesity

M1 - 1461796

ER -

Type 1 Diabetes Is a Barrier to Obesity Treatment: Patient Insights From a Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Access Statement

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this