Dr. Sai Yi Pan and her colleagues at Public Health Agency of Canada asked 5,167 adults how confident they were that they could exercise 30 minutes three or four times a week. People who answered that they were confident were more likely to carry out exercise programs. Dr. Pan also found that those who said they intended to be active in the near future were also more likely to exercise regularly.

Dr. Pan suggested that public health programs should "enhance people's motivation and confidence," and not just provide education about the benefits of exercise.

Dr. Pan's study was published January 16, 2009, in Volume 9 of the journal BMC Public Health.

Labels: exercise

Posted By: Aspen Education Group