Table 1

Interview schedule

I wonder if you could tell me about why you agreed to take part in this study.

Overweight and obesity
Weight problems and obesity are in the news a lot.
• I wonder if you could tell me what you think obesity means. How would you explain it to someone?
• How would you define a normal/healthy weight? (Are they the same thing?)
• What do you think influences peoples views about this?

Diet
• What would you describe as a healthy diet?
• Does the diet you normally eat differ from this-if so in what way?
• What do you think influences people in the choices they make about what
they eat?

Physical activity
• What do you regard as physical activity?
• How important do you think it is? (-views on frequency, time, and amount of exertion/-is it walking, running, housework?)
• Is it equally important for everyone- are there groups of people who should or shouldn't do much exercise?

Diabetes
• Do you know what diabetes is? How would you describe it to someone else? (causes/symptoms/how do people get it/who gets it/do you think is it becoming more or less common/why might that be?)
• Do you know if diabetes is linked to any other health conditions?
• Do you know anything about the ways in which diabetes can be prevented?

Conclusion
Are there things that we have not discussed but which you would have wanted us to discuss?

Weaver et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:311   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-311