Table 1 Summary of themes identified from transcripts of focus group discussions and key recommendations

Lifestyle behaviours for both mental health and physical health

“Good lifestyle, good food, fitness, going to bed at a decent time [all influence physical and mental health]..” (Participant 2, aged 48)

“I’ve started going to bed earlier, now, to get the sleep in and I find now I’m getting more sleep and I’m not as stressed” (Participant 5, aged 61)

“I think wellbeing is the best word ever because it’s not like you [only] need to be fit, [or that] you need to stop eating bags of chips. It’s wellbeing. I think that is definitely mentally as well as physically.”(Participant 24, aged 51)

• Reinforcement of links between lifestyle behaviours and physical and mental health by a credible individual or credible resource

Work pressures are barriers to engaging with lifestyle behaviour change

“I think most of it is work, as with most people nowadays. Where there’s less people working and they’re expecting people to pick up the work and the workload’s getting heavier…” (Participant 5, aged 61)

“You want to do exercise, but if you get up at 05:30 in the morning to get here [work place], and you are getting home at 6:30 pm, you just want to have something to eat, have a shower, and go to bed” (Participant 9, aged 33)

• Provision of workplace interventions and self-help activities

• Engagement with employers

• Incorporate barrier identification and problem solving activities

• Signpost to facilities close by to reduce time to travel

• Tackle workload issues practically and personally

Previous injuries are barriers to engagement in physical activity and exercise

“About a year ago I hurt my Achilles and I haven’t been able to run properly since” (Participant 4, aged 38)

• Include graded tasks and facilities/activities to enable this process

• Incorporate personalised barrier identification and problem solving

Personal and peer group relationships impact on lifestyle behaviour change

“….if I went and trained and stuff and went away, participated in events and stuff, I don't think she'd be too happy” (Participant 25, aged 39)

“…if you’ve got a peer group that’s going to keep you motivated, keep you on target” (Participant 4, aged 38)

“…my wife has pushed me on any sport I've done or any fitness thing or healthy eating” (Participant 23, aged 57)

• Incorporate social support when signposting to lifestyle services/programmes/activities. To include social, practical and emotional support

Relationships between body image and self-confidence on mastery of skills for physical activity and exercise

“Whenever you’re big, walking through the door of the gym with all fit and beautiful people is really hard” (Participant 19, aged 45)

“There’s no point in me rocking up to a training session that these guys on a Saturday play because I’d just be out of my depth, and I’d look a fool.” (Participant 25, aged 51)

• Generation of rules to address perceived judgement and negativity

• Promote group-based activities of similar individuals

Building motivation and personalised goal setting

“But it's having that motivation and having that time when you're not tired to be able to go and take some exercise and say, "Well this is doing me the world of good.” (Participant 16, aged 62)

“I think it was small targets that you could see you were achieving, and if you do this you will see results….Setting small targets and seeing small results that help a lot.” (Participant 19, aged 45)

• Identifying a range of options to facilitate lifestyle behaviour change

• Identify different ways of making meaningful changes in lifestyle behaviours

• Incorporate practical, emotional and social support, and treat all three equally

• Offer a means to self-monitor progress

Credible individuals increase uptake and continued engagement with lifestyle behaviour change

“I think, good information, given to you… You’ve got to have somebody there who’s accredited or qualified, to actually tell you what you should be doing” (Participant 3, aged 32)

“You look like you’re the type of guy that has got knowledge in these areas [referring to facilitator]. Rather than just doing it myself, I would go to the gym. I’ve got no trainer” (Participant 8, aged 52)

• Use of qualified/trained and non-judgemental individuals who participants can relate to on a personal level (e.g., professionals with lived experience, peer support workers)

• Provide up-to-date, evidence-informed information