Table 4 Behavioral analysis based on the TDF and the COM‐B model

Psychological capability

Knowledge

Perceived limited knowledge about the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome

I have heard of high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and hyperlipidemia. But I am unfamiliar with metabolic syndrome. (P7)

Barrier

Does it mean poor metabolism? I don’t know much about metabolic syndrome. (P14)

Absent knowledge about regular physical activity

I have no idea what regular physical activity is. And I don’t know how long it takes to do physical activity. (P15)

Barrier

For me, regular exercise is to do what you can. I'm not sure if what I say is correct. (P16)

I don’t want to exercise. My mother has been suffering from diabetes for 30 to 40 years. She took medicine and received insulin treatment. She is in good health. (P19)

I can’t ensure that my physical activity is regular. Because I don’t know what regular physical activity is. (P6)

Behavior regulation

Lacking self-control

I do not have the habit of recording physical activity. (P6)

Barrier

Memory, attention and decision process

Work driven

The process of work is also a process of physical activity. I sweat a lot at work. (P21)

Facilitator

Hobby driven

I like dancing. I danced for 2 h a day for a month and lost 5 kg. (P13)

Facilitator

The severity of metabolic syndrome

I don’t want to exercise because I'm too lazy. I want to sleep or play mahjong when I'm full. The metabolic syndrome is not severe. (P19)

Facilitator

If the metabolic syndrome is severe, I will exercise. If not, I will not maintain regular exercise. (P2)

Pursuing perfection

I have been running for a year since July last year, and basically no one reminded me to exercise. This is related to my character of pursuing perfection. (P5)

Facilitator

Physical capability

Skills

Fearing that physical activity would aggravate conditions

I walk a little longer, and my knees won’t work. I originally liked skipping rope, because of my knees, I stopped skipping rope. (P2)

Barrier

My lumbar muscle is strained, so I can’t do strenuous exercise. (P8)

Absence of physical activity skills

I have not received any physical activity-related training. I signed up for the gym, but never went to it once. (P3)

Barrier

No one told me how to exercise. I exercise with my own experience. (P1)

Social opportunity

Social influences

Social support is necessary

My wife reminded me to exercise regularly. It would be better to have someone remind. (P3)

Facilitator

I rarely exercise by myself and don’t want to go at all. It needs at least two people to work out together. (P24)

I really need my wife’s supervision. My wife always reminds me to exercise, which motivates me to exercise. (P9)

Physical opportunity

Environmental context and resources

Lacking time

I have to accompany my clients every night, and when I get home it’s very late, and I don’t have time to exercise. Therefore, work takes up exercise time. (P7)

Barrier

Lacking equipment and venue

We used to like to play badminton in the factory. Later we changed our work

Barrier

place, and there was no venue in the factory. Therefore, it is rare to play badminton nowadays. (P2)

I used to swim, but then I stopped swimming because the swimming pool was far away from us, which was inconvenient. (P23)

Lacking physical activity atmosphere

People in my hometown generally do not exercise until after the age of fifty, and rarely do exercises before the age of fifty. Everyone is working hard. (P17)

Barrier

Good physical activity atmosphere

I used to feel boring to go swimming alone. There are two friends, they said they want to go swimming too. Then I have been insisting on going swimming. (P20)

Facilitator

People of my dad’s generation are all exercising. I think I need also exercise. When I am in their age, I will be different from other people. (P4)

The influence of weather

I was supposed to jog for an hour every morning. I haven’t run for two months. The weather affects my physical activity, such as high temperature and rainy days. (P15)

Barrier

Reflective motivation

Social/professional role and identity

Physical activity is unimportant

I am fine. Exercise is optional in my life and it is not important. Some things are more important than exercise. (P3)

Barrier

Work is more important than exercise

Exercise is not very important. It is a part of life, and the important thing is to make money. (P16)

Barrier

It’s impossible (to exercise) now. After I retire, I will exercise. The important thing now is work. (P28)

Belief about capabilities

Sufficient confidence

I am very confident. I want to work until I am eighty. Because my child is still young, I have to work hard to support my family. (P8)

Facilitator

Considering my health, it is not difficulty. It just needs me to get up earlier. (P16)

Beliefs about consequences

Good spirits

I feel refreshed after every workout. Therefore, physical activity will make people more energetic. (P17)

Facilitator

Metabolic parameters and anthropometric indicators are improved

I used to jog every day. Through regular exercise, I lost 7 kg in 22 days. I can’t believe this fact. (P8)

Facilitator

My blood glucose was high for a while. After a month of exercise, I don’t need to take blood glucose medicine anymore. (P5)

Physical fitness is improved

Physical fitness improves after exercise. If I do not exercise, I will pant when climbing stairs. (P7)

Facilitator

Memory is improved

Exercise accelerates blood circulation, provides nutrition to brain cells, and then improves memory. (P10)

Facilitator

Be beneficial to sleep

I didn't sleep well. Sleep quality was improved after exercise. Exercise helps sleep. (P27)

Facilitator

Optimism

Confident

Deeply influenced by Chinese Yixue culture, I believe in mind therapy. If you believe that exercise has good results, it has good results. (P8)

Facilitator

As everybody knows, physical activity will have many benefits. I understand the truth. (P10)

Not perceiving benefits of physical activity

I’ve been fat since I was a kid. I used to exercise and control my diet, but my weight has not improved significantly. (P6)

Barrier

I may be predisposed to obesity. Exercise didn’t make me lose weight. Therefore, I don’t want to exercise anymore. (P14)

Intention

High intention

I am the oldest in my family. I have heavy responsibilities, and I can’t have any problems with my body. I will continue to maintain this (regular)exercise habit in the future. (P5)

Facilitator

Don’t worry, I will definitely go on (dancing) for weight loss and health. (P13)

Have intention but lack of confidence

I plan to exercise regularly, but I feel like it is difficult to implement. I’m usually too busy. (P10)

Barrier

Goals

No goals

I am a person who pursues freedom. Go as far as you want. No goals are set. (P11)

Barrier

Keep healthy

The original intention of exercise is to reduce the waist circumference. Also, I want to live longer. Because my dad passed away in his 60 s. (P4)

Facilitator

Only my own body is my own. I will be responsible for my own body. I must get my body well which is the greatest wealth. (P20)

I run five kilometers a day more often. I do it for health, not for running. (P5)

Automatic motivation

Reinforcement

Yearning for knowledge and sunshine

When I am eager for knowledge and longing for sunshine, I go to climb the mountain. (P8)

Facilitator

Monitor weight

I monitor my weight every day to urge myself to exercise regularly. When I gain weight, I exercise more. When I lose weight, I exercise a little less. (P20)

Facilitator

The requirements of children

Rewards don’t make me exercise, nothing makes me exercise. Unless the children ask me to walk with them, I will exercise. (P19)

Facilitator

When others force me to exercise, I will exercise. Without coercion, it is impossible for me to exercise. (P12)

Emotion

Negative emotions affect physical activity

Exercise is not appealing to me when I'm in a bad mood and I just want to sleep. (P11)

Barrier