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Overweight men's motivations and perceived barriers towards weight loss

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 526–531 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To explore motivation and perceived barriers towards weight loss among Danish men.

Design:

The study was of an explorative nature, using qualitative focus group interviews as a method.

Setting:

Copenhagen, Denmark.

Subjects:

Twenty-two overweight men, at the age of 25–44 years and motivated for weight loss, were recruited and distributed into four focus groups. The men were primarily unskilled workers. Overall 13 men participated and each group contained three or four participants.

Intervention:

The interview guide was partly structured, partly unstructured and the themes of the interviews were motives and perceived barriers towards weight loss.

Results:

Main barriers for losing weight appeared to be lack of motivation and the perception of the slimming diet. The men had a desire to have a lean appearance and avoid illness, but in all the interviews it appeared that the strongest motive for losing weight was a strong desire to become more effective and a greater asset for one's workplace. Overweight subjects were considered less effective and attractive for the labour market.

Conclusion:

This study indicates that if men from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are to be motivated to weight loss the focus should not be on leanness and good health but rather on increased effectiveness and performance, and the arena should include the working place.

Sponsorship:

The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University supplied the necessary equipment and conference rooms.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University for supporting this study by supplying the necessary equipment and conference rooms.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Suhr's University College of Nutrition and Health, International Knowledge Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

    M S Sabinsky

  2. Research Centre of Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark

    U Toft

  3. Novo Nordisk A/S, Clinical Research Dev Projects, Copenhagen, Denmark

    A Raben

  4. Department of Human Nutrition, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    L Holm

Authors
  1. M S Sabinsky
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  2. U Toft
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  3. A Raben
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  4. L Holm
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to U Toft.

Additional information

Guarantor: U Toft.

Contributors: MSS and UT performed the focus group interviews, conducted the data analysis and were responsible for the interpretation of the data and drafting the manuscript. LH and AR helped design and were supervisors on the project. All the authors participated in editing the manuscript and provided advice regarding interpretation of the results.

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Sabinsky, M., Toft, U., Raben, A. et al. Overweight men's motivations and perceived barriers towards weight loss. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 526–531 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602537

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602537

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