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The Influence of Social Relationships on Men's Weight
Kimberley Anne Harcourt1, Jane Appleton1, Miriam E Clegg2
1Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England.
Objective:
To explore how men's social relationships influence their dietary, physical activity, and weight loss intentions and behaviors.
Design:
Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
Setting:
One county in the southwest of England.
Participants:
Men (n = 19) aged 18-60 years with a body mass index ≥24 kg/m2 who were otherwise healthy.
Phenomenon Of Interest:
Men's perceptions of dieting, physical activity and weight loss, and how social relationships influence these behaviors.
Analysis:
Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded line by line using NVivo software. Themes and subthemes were inductively generated using thematic analysis.
Results:
Four themes were derived: (1) how experiences shape beliefs, (2) being a proper bloke, (3) adapting to family life, and (4) support from outside the home. Men discussed how partners were a greater influence on diet than physical activity. Attitudes toward diet and physical activity were influenced by life events such as becoming a father. It was framed as acceptable for men to talk to their friends about exercise and food intake in general, but they emphasized that this was not for "support."
Conclusions And Implications:
Family members were key influences on men's behaviors. Future qualitative research could include interviews with men's families. Findings may inform family weight loss interventions.
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