Aim
The aim of this study is to examine the long term effects of e12 and how they have influenced the lifestyle and perceived awareness about nutrition and exercise in relation to factors from Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) that e12 took in consideration. The questions asked were; How has e12 affected the attitudes, skills, self-efficacy and knowledge relative to exercise? How has e12 influenced the individual’s habits of exercise? How has e12 affected the perceived awareness regarding the impact of nutrition and exercise on the body weight?
Method
The study is pursued by a qualitative method using semi structured interviews on six individuals between the ages of 16-18 years old that completed the project 4-5 years ago. A questionnaire regarding nutrition and exercise habits was also used as part of the study. All individuals from the year of interest were first contacted by the senior physician connected to the project. The authors got in contact with those individuals who agreed to take part in the study and they were given a summary of the study and set a time for an interview. A recorder was used during the interviews. The data was transcribed and then analyzed according to a thematical analysis, basis taken from personal factors and environmental factors from SCT.
Results
The individuals reckon that the project has influenced exercise habits by improving attitudes, skills, self-efficacy and knowledge relative to exercise. The awareness created about parameters related to physical activity and the importance for controlling body weight is however limited, according to the individuals. Also, e12 is perceived to have contributed to some increase in the adolescents’ awareness of the importance regarding diet for weight. This impact has mainly been done through teaching the plate model. Those who believe that e12 have affected all of the personal factors and have had environmental support believe to a greater extent than the others that e12 have affected their awareness of nutrition and exercise.
Conclusions
e12 is considered having an effect on the perception that you should exercise but is not teaching people how to exercise. The long-term effects on exercise habits has been made trough the fact that e12 used SCT and that the job involved both practice and theory.The dimension of the impact caused by e12, in difference from other factors, is however not possible to establish from this data.