# Dynamics of Perceived Barriers to Change Physical Activity and Eating Habits in Adults Before and During a Lifestyle Intervention in a Primary Care Setting: A Mixed Methods Approach

## TL;DR

This study explores how perceived barriers to changing physical activity and eating habits shift in adults before and during a lifestyle intervention in primary care.

## Contribution

The study identifies how barriers to lifestyle change evolve during an intervention and highlights the need for tailored support.

## Key findings

- Intrapersonal barriers like lack of willpower were dominant before the intervention.
- Environmental barriers such as family support and work constraints emerged during the action phase.
- Barrier dynamics were consistent across sex, birthplace, and education level.

## Abstract

There is scarcity of data exploring the dynamics of barriers to changing physical activity (PA) and eating habits during a lifestyle intervention in a primary care setting. The aim of the present study was to investigate barriers to lifestyle change before and during a primary care lifestyle intervention in adults with different sociodemographic backgrounds.

Barriers to healthy eating and PA were assessed in 114 adults (age = 55 ± 9 years) using a questionnaire before inclusion in the intervention. During the lifestyle intervention, factors perceived as obstacles to reach goals for PA and healthy eating habits were collected using focus group interviews in a sub-sample of 25 adults and analyzed using thematic analysis.

At least 1 barrier to changing eating and PA habits was reported in 65% and 67% of the population, respectively, without differences due to sex, place of birth, and educational level. Before entering the lifestyle intervention, intrapersonal factors including lack of willpower and lack of enjoyment were the dominant barriers to PA and healthy eating, irrespective of place of birth, sex, and education level. In contrast, environmental factors such as lack of support from family and work-related constraints emerged as important barriers to overcome during the action phase of the lifestyle intervention.

The present study highlights the dynamics of barriers to changing PA and eating habits in a primary care lifestyle intervention, emphasizing the need for barrier assessment during the different phases of an intervention to tailor support activities for successful lifestyle behavioral change.