Background: While being overweight and living with obesity are common problems among patients with mental illness, these problems are even more prevalent among patients undergoing treatment with neuroleptics. There appears to be a lack of understanding regarding weight management interventions and strategies for the prevention of weight gain in this patient group. The aim of this study was to examine psychiatric nurses’ perceptions of managing weight gain in patients with psychosis undergoing treatment with neuroleptics.

Methods: Three focus group interviews were conducted during October and November 2022, with sixteen psychiatric registered nurses (RNs) recruited using purposive sampling. The focus-group interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed. The study procedure followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ), a checklist of items that should be included in reports of qualitative research. This was to ensure clear reporting of important aspects of the study´s research, such as the researcher’s reflexivity, findings, analysis and interpretations. 

Results: The findings from this study revealed two overarching themes: “acknowledging the medication regimes influences on weight gain” and “supporting a healthy lifestyle;” and their corresponding sub-themes: the two sides of neuroleptics; structural and individual challenges related to weight gain; promoting a healthy diet and physical activity; and respectful and non-judgmental motivational support.

Conclusion: The RNs described a range of perceived challenges relating to weight management in this patient group. An understanding of these challenges might be useful to consider when planning strategies to manage weight gain in patients undergoing treatment with neuroleptics.