Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 42, Issue 1 , Pages 2-9, January 2010

Attitudes of Overweight and Normal Weight Adults Regarding Exercise at a Health Club

  • Wayne C. Miller, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Wayne C. Miller, PhD, Department of Exercise Science, The George Washington University Medical Center, 817 23rd Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052; Phone: (202) 994-2952; Fax: (202) 994-1420
    • ,
  • Todd A. Miller, PhD

Department of Exercise Science, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC

published online 16 November 2009.

Abstract 

Objective

To compare attitudes of overweight (OW) and normal weight (NW) adults regarding health club exercise.

Design

A 46-item survey (23 pairs of attitude/value statements) measured attitudes toward exercising at a health club 30 minutes, twice a week, for a month.

Setting

Survey posted on surveymonkey.com. Respondents (men = 730, women = 822).

Main Outcome Measures

Attitudes toward exercise, exercise intent.

Analysis

t tests, Mann-Whitney rank sum, 2-way analysis of variance, Pearson rank correlations. Significance set at P < .05.

Results

More than NW, OW believe exercise improves appearance (P < .001) and self image (P < .03). OW feel more embarrassed and intimidated about exercising, exercising around young people, exercising around fit people, and about health club salespeople than NW (P < .001). OW and NW feel the same about exercising with the opposite sex, complicated exercise equipment, exercise boredom, and intention to exercise. Age rather than weight affects exercise intent. OW Caucasians (C) have less exercise intent than OW non-C. OW women are more embarrassed about exercising than NW women and OW men. The heavier the subject's weight, the lower his or her perception of health (r = -0.53, P < .001).

Conclusions and Implications

Increasing the OW person's positive beliefs while decreasing negative beliefs about health club exercise will improve his or her intent to exercise at a health club.

Key Words: behavioral intent, Theory of Planned Behavior, health clubs, exercise perceptions, obesity

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 Continuing Education Questionnaire available at www.sne.org/ Meets Learning Need Codes for RDs and DTRs 4000, 4060, 5370, and 6010.

PII: S1499-4046(08)00786-0

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2008.08.005

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 42, Issue 1 , Pages 2-9, January 2010

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