Barriers to and motivators for physical activity among people with type 2 diabetes

The authors identified four main themes: 

1. the body as a barrier to physical activity because of functional limitations;
2. logistical challenges, including lack of time and awareness of where to exercise in the local area;
3. being physically active with others, providing a sense of mutual commitment and enjoyment; 
4. goal-setting and self-tracking, which was seen as an opportunity to track physical improvement over time.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that, once people are active, a high level of social interaction may help maintain their activity levels. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of combining individually tailored exercise plans with the establishment of customized and locally based exercise communities that offer enjoyment and support.