Abstract
BackgroundInterventions to reduce and prevent overweight, obesity and T2D has been advocated worldwide. In Norway, Healthy Life Centres have been established to help individuals to reduce and prevent diseases, offering physical activity and dietary advice to establish healthy habits. Previous life experiences, social support and help from health personnel could play a role in the process of establishing healthy habits. The aim of this study was to explore how two groups of Healthy Life Centre participants described their previous life experiences, social relations and wish for support from Healthy Life Centre personnel.MethodsA qualitative design was used, including 49 individual semi-structured interviews. The interviews for this study were performed in two different samples, one sample of participants applying for HLC participation in 2013 (n = 23) and one sample of participants invited to HLC participation in 2015 (n = 26). The data was analyzed using systematic text condensation.ResultsThree main themes in a chronological (past, present and future) order were identified: 1. Previous life experiences stamping life situation (past time). 2. Social relations being a support or a burden in everyday life (present time) and 3. Expressing wishes for HLC support (future).ConclusionsIn the process of establishing healthy habits, the need for help from personnel may be differentiated based on previous life experiences and present social relations.
Highlights
Interventions to reduce and prevent overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been advocated worldwide
In the process of establishing healthy habits, the need for help from personnel may be differentiated based on previous life experiences and present social relations
In this study, 49 Healthy Life Centres (HLC) participants highlighted three main themes, representing participants’ past, present, and future when talking about establishing healthy habits: previous life experiences, present social relations, and the wish for support from the HLC personnel
Summary
Interventions to reduce and prevent overweight, obesity and T2D has been advocated worldwide. Social support and help from health personnel could play a role in the process of establishing healthy habits. Interventions to reduce and prevent overweight, obesity and T2D should include diet advice, physical activity [3, 4] and behavioural therapy [5]. Social network may provide support including information about diet or exercise, reassurance of steps necessary for healthy habits or by increasing compliance to treatment [18]
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