Staff perspectives on obesity within a Welsh secure psychiatric inpatient setting

<h3>Purpose</h3> <p>This study aims to understand the perceived causes and consequences of weight gain within a secure psychiatric inpatient service in South Wales.</p> <h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3> <p>A purposive sample of 12 staff members were interviewed. These interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.</p> <h3>Findings</h3> <p>Three themes were identified, these were increasing demand for integrated physical health care, unhealthy lifestyles and weight gain viewed as a symptom of poor mental health.</p> <h3>Originality/value</h3> <p>It is a unique insight into the factors that contribute to obesity in a Welsh secure unit and adds to current understanding of the challenges of improving weight management services within this sector. </p>