Behaviour Change Barriers

An all-or-nothing mindset was widespread among participants, with a single dietary lapse framed as morally loaded 'cheating' that negated prior effort and discouraged continuation. Life pressures including mental health difficulties, disabilities, caring responsibilities, and the cost of living all shaped what behaviour change felt practically possible and safe. Inaccurate nutritional beliefs — such as the view that staple South Asian foods like chapati and rice are inherently fattening — drove unnecessarily restrictive dietary changes of limited cardiovascular benefit. Fatalism — the belief that serious illness would occur regardless of current efforts — reduced the perceived value of behaviour change for some participants. Participants found ambitious targets demotivating and preferred small, incremental encouragement over fixed goal-setting. Participants questioned whether incidental movement — such as carrying shopping, housework, or walking — counted toward physical activity guidelines, and recognition of these contributions was important for motivation.