Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity

832 Words4 Pages
Given the health benefits of regular physical activity, we might have to ask why two out of three (60%) Americans are not active at recommended levels. Many technological advances and conveniences that have made our lives easier and less active, many personal variables, including physiological, behavioral, and psychological factors, may affect our plans to become more physically active. In fact, the 10 most common reasons adults cite for not adopting more physically active lifestyles are (Sallis and Hovell, 1990; Sallis et al., 1992) • Do not have enough time to exercise • Find it inconvenient to exercise • Lack self-motivation • Do not find exercise enjoyable • Find exercise boring • Lack confidence in their ability to be physically active (low self-efficacy) • Fear being injured or have been injured recently • Lack self-management skills, such as the ability to set personal goals, monitor progress, or reward progress toward such goals • Lack encouragement, support, or companionship from family and friends, and • Do not have parks, sidewalks, bicycle trails, or safe and pleasant walking paths convenient to their homes or offices. Understanding common barriers to physical activity and creating strategies to overcome them may help you make physical activity part of your daily life. Suggestions for Overcoming Physical Activity Barriers Lack of time Identify available time slots. Monitor your daily activities for one week. Identify at least three 30-minute time slots you could use for physical activity. Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to work or shopping, organize school activities around physical activity, walk the dog, exercise while you watch TV, park farther away from your destination, etc. Select activities requiring minimal time, such as walking, jogging, or stairclimbing. Social influence Explain

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