AbstractThis qualitative study used a semi‐structured interview to explore whether user perspective on quality of life changed following a 12 week day therapy programme for eating disorders. Thematic analysis was used to explore emergent themes. The most significant finding was the difference between the trajectories of the completers and the non‐completers of the day programme. Whilst completers and non‐completers were similar at the start of the programme, completers moved through aspiration to actual change in the quality of their lives, whereas non‐completers were unable to take their aspiration through to action. One possible explanation for the findings is that motivation may be an important intermediate variable, with completers of the programme being more motivated to improve not only their symptoms but also the quality of their lives more generally. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.