EXERCISE ADHERENCE

1. EXERCISE ADHERENCE Damon Burton University of Idaho

2. WHAT IS EXERCISE ADHERENCE? • Exercise Adherence (EA) – is the ability to maintain an exercise program for an extended time period. • Exercise adherence is one of the biggest health problems for American adults. • EA is also a problem for children and adolescents, probably due in part to extensive reductions in required physical education classes.

3. EXERCISE ADHERENCE How big of a problem is exercise adherence among American adults?

4. EXERCISE STATISTICS • 45% of adults are sedentary (i.e., totally inactive). • Only 65% of children participate in regular physical activity. • 35% of adults exercise once per week. • 10-20% of adults get health benefits from physical activity. • 10% of sedentary adults begin exercise programs each year. • 50% of new exercisers will drop out within six months.

5. EXERCISE ADHERENCE What are the major reasons why adults exercise?

6. REASONS ADULTS EXERCISE • Weight control for appearance and health. • Health benefits--particularly for cardiovascular problems (i.e., hypertension). • Stress and depression management. • Enjoyment. • Building self-esteem. • Social and affiliation benefits.

7. EXERCISE ADHERENCE Do the reasons adults start an exercise program differ from the reasons that they continue to exercise?

8. REASONS FOR INITIATING EXERCISE PROGRAMS • Health benefits. • Weight control. • Appearance. • Increased energy. • Mobility issues (e.g., joint problems). • Meet people.

9. REASONS FOR MAINTAINING EXERCISE PROGRAMS • Stress and depression management. • Enjoyment. • Building self-esteem. • Maintaining social relationships. • Weight maintenance. • Health maintenance.

10. EXERCISE ADHERENCE What are the common excuses for not exercising?

11. EXERCISE BARRIERS • Lack of time. • Lack of knowledge. • Lack of facilities. • Fatigue.

12. OTHER EXERCISE BARRIERS • Social support barriers. • Health and fitness barriers. • Other commitments. • Resource barriers. • Programming barriers.

13. FACTORS IMPACING EXERCISE ADHERENCE • Personality factors. • Situational factors. • Behavioral factors. • Programmatic factors.

14. PERSONAL FACTORS • Exercise history. • Knowledge/beliefs about health benefits of exercise. • Personality factors: • Type A versus Type B. • Self-motivation.

15. BEHAVIORAL FACTORS • Smoking. • Income. • Education. • Occupational status: • “Blue collar”. • “White collar”.

16. SITUATIONAL FACTORS • Social support. • Convenience of facility. • Time. • Climate or region. DQ 5: Should everyone participate in both group and individual exercise activities?

17. PROGRAMMATIC FACTORS • Exercise intensity. • Group versus individual programs. • Qualities of exercise leaders.

18. Environmental approaches. Reinforcement approaches. Goal setting and cognitive approaches. Decision-making approaches. Social support approaches. EXERCISE ADHERENCE STRATEGIES

19. ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACHES • Prompts • Contracts • Perceived choice

20. REINFORCEMENT APPROACHES • Attendance and participation rewards. • Feedback and testing. • Self-monitoring and self-reward.

21. GOAL SETTING & COGNITIVE APPROACHES • Goals. • Self talk. • Thought focus strategies: • Association. • Dissociation.

22. DECISION-MAKING & SOCIAL SUPPORT APPROACHES • Decision-balance sheet (cost/benefit analysis). • Social support from partner, group or class.

23. BEST EXERCISE ADHERENCE STRATEGIES • Make exercise fun and enjoyable. • Tailor exercise frequency, duration and intensity to the exerciser. • Promote group exercise. • Keep daily exercise logs. • Reinforce success. • Find a convenient place to exercise.