Overweight and Obese College Students’ Perceived Barriers and Motivators for a Healthy Lifestyle
Overweight and Obese College Students’ Perceived Barriers and Motivators for a Healthy Lifestyle

Summary/Abstract: This qualitative study explored overweight and obese collegestudents’ experiences of obesity. Overweight and obese university students(BMI 25 or higher) from a southwestern regional university in the UnitedStates were recruited for in-depth qualitative interviews. Interviews wereconducted face-to-face in a private room during the academic year 2013-14.A team of trained qualitative researchers used conversational interviews todiscuss the students’ experiences for 45-60 minutes. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis used qualitative emergent themesand categorization. Researchers analyzed the data at team meetings fortriangulation and validation. Nineteen overweight or obese universitystudents (female=11 and male=8) participated in the study. Sixty-threepercent (12 out of 19) were obese and the remainder were overweight.Seventy-three percent (14 out of 19) did not meet the physical activityguidelines for Americans. Time and motivation were barriers for physicalactivity. Seventy-three percent (14 out of 19) reported eating unhealthyfoods. Lack of time and convenience were barriers to eating healthier. Theyshowed a lack of knowledge on how to make healthy food choices. Elevenout of nineteen (57%) participants were self-conscious about their body, andhalf were having trouble finding clothes that fit.

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