A descriptive study of how clients make life-style changes

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe how adults with diabetes in a weight control study attempted to make life-style behavioral changes. All subjects had non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and were 20% to 50% overweight. Data were drawn from narrative responses given by 28 clients to open-ended questions regarding behavioral change. Questions were asked as part of a 16-week life-style behavioral change program for weight control. A systematic analysis of content was used to generate six categories of responses depicting the life-style behavioral change process. The process, as described by these clients, is: Starting point; Introspection; Why change; Mental preparation; Plans, progress, and continuation; and Helps and hindrances.