Motivational Peer Interviewing (Body, PA, Food)

Imogene Carson

Body
Learning outcome: Understanding that appearance does not correlate with self-worth
Goals: 1. Elicit a means to make peace with ones body and personal value system
2. Establish person’s relationships with friends and family- determine whether
this is a major influencing factor for how they view themselves
Learning Objective: Understanding that appearance does not correlate with self-worth
Materials: Clipboards, pen and paper
Student prior knowledge: They are aware that their relationship with body image is
affecting their overall happiness. They recognize consulting with someone may
help them address their specific issues
Interview Preparation: would entail being aware that these topics are very personal.
Interviewees may carry a lot of emotional baggage about his or her body. Use an
attitude of acceptance- not approval or agreement. Before sessions reiterate that
this interview should focus on open-ended questions, affirmations promoting self-
efficacy, reflective listening and summary statements. All of these should help the
person reflect upon the meanings of their own responses.

• What are your feelings about your body?

• Would you describe your self-esteem as being high, medium or low?
• Are there factors, either present or past, that affect the way you view your body?
o If so what are they?
• Do you feel comfortable with your body weight?
• Do you wish that your body looked similar to someone else’s?
o Why is that?
• Do you remember the last time you felt comfortable with your body weight?
• Do you remember what was different during that time and what was different
about your lifestyle?
• Do you associate weight with self-worth?

Researchers believe it is important to pay attention to the times when you feel bad about
your body. During these times of negativity reflect on what prompted you to feel
unhappy with your body: was it because you just weighed yourself? Did it have to do
with the magazine article you just read? Did you just talk to a friend or family member
who felt negative about her or his own body?
http://u.osu.edu/tracyltylka/files/2015/08/Halliwell_SI-1zdd1pe.pdf

Tips to overcome these feelings include: understanding that there are differences between
health and appearance, surrounding oneself with supportive and accepting friends/family,
writing a list on your positive qualities that have nothing to do with body weight, and also
treating yourself with respect.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/10-steps-positive-body-image
Physical Activity (PA)
Goals: to make exercise choices from a place of self-care rather than self- control

Learning outcome: Provide ways to make working out approachable and enjoyable as a
primary means to improve exercise adherence

• Do you want to find ways to increase your physical activity?

It has been shown that social support encourages physical activity. If you decided to
become more active this year, having an exercise buddy may help you achieve and
maintain that goal. Buddies provide optimism, they hold one accountable, they make time
pass more quickly and they make working out more enjoyable (Barbara Brehm,
Department of Exercise and Sports Science Northhampton, MA).
http://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/get-motivated-workout-you-wont-cancel

• Do you have any friends or family members you could workout with?
• Do you know of anyone eager to start engaging in exercise?
• Have you ever considered joining an exercise class on campus or maybe even
participating in intramural sports?
• Do you want more information on what our campus offers as far as exercise
programs and classes go?
• What form of physical activity do you find most enjoyable and why?

Another tip to help one stay on top of working out on a regular basis is to start by making
small progress goals like planning to workout twice a week for 20 minutes. The first few
steps of an exercise program should be kept simple, this helps keep motivation high.
Starting small helps one stick to their workout program and it makes exercising a couple
times a week seem more doable and less overwhelming.
http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/resource-center/health-fitness-resources/exercise-
adherence-tips/
Food
Goals: Unravel what their intention is behind their food behaviors. Emphasize making
food choices from a place of self-care rather than self-control

Learning Outcome: Food fuels our lives and allows us to be happy and energetic. Our
eating habits are not always going to be perfect—it is ok to indulge.

• Do you feel guilt after eating a snack you think is unhealthy?

o Why is that?

Researchers emphasize that what you eat does not define you as a person, eating is about
balance. Studies have shown that when we associate feelings of guilt with certain foods
we are sending negative input throughout out our internal nervous systems. These
negative signals stop our digestive organs from functioning correctly and this can
decrease our body’s ability to burn calories efficiently. Essentially, feelings of guilt can
cause the body to gain weight more easily.
http://psychologyofeating.com/mind-over-food/

Luckily there are strategies that can help one rebound from these feelings of guilt: the
next time you start to feel guilty about eating a donut, think about what you would tell
your best friend if they were in your situation. The advice you would give him or her may
just be the advice you should give yourself.

Studies show that if we learn from our mistakes, rather than feel guilty about them, we
can use them as guides. We can use them to plan for our future success and make the
necessary adjustments to stay on the path to our goals.
https://www.cfscamp.com/adams-leary-eating-attitudes.pdf

• What foods do you associate with a healthy lifestyle?

• Do you think it is ok to eat desserts on occasion?
o Why do you feel that way?
• Do the people you hang around with also feel guilty about eating certain foods?
• Do food choices give you anxiety?
• Would you consider your relationship to food healthy?
o Why do you think that?