Barriers to Behavioral Change in Young Male Workers with Obesity and Skills Pertaining to Providing Health Guidance for Them: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the barriers to behavioral change in young male workers with obesity, and to identify the skills pertaining to providing individual and group health guidance for them.

Methods: Two group interviews took place with 8 health nurses and 2 dieticians who had experience in providing health guidance for young workers for more than five years.

Results: The following barriers to behavioral change in young male workers with obesity were identified: negative mental state to behavioral change, lack of knowledge of one’s health problems, and difficulty in changing one’s lifestyle. The following skills for providing individual health guidance were identified: maintaining a continued supportive relationship with the young male workers, building a relationship of trust with them by becoming a person who is close to them, and motivating young workers to lose weight.

Conclusions: It is important that health care providers support young male workers with obesity to develop the intention to lose weight and to motivate behavioral change, and provide them knowledge regarding diet control and stress coping strategies.