@article{jpm2020811,
author={{Cavallini, M. Felicia and Dyck, David J.},
title={Presenting Meaningful Lifestyle Physical Activity Images to People for a More Realistic, Doable, and Enjoyable Way to Meet Our Physical Activity Guidelines},
journal={World Journal of Preventive Medicine},
volume={8},
number={1},
pages={1--6},
year={2020},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpm/8/1/1},
issn={2379-8866},
abstract={Most Americans and Canadians do not meet their respective country¡¯s physical activity (PA) guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity and 2 or more strengthening activities per week. More recent studies have indicated a preference for lifestyle PA rather than traditional exercise, suggesting a need for a change of strategy in how we motivate, educate and connect people to their meaningful PA. The purpose of this study was to examine peoples¡¯ beliefs, outlooks, and attitudes towards PA and exercise in Southern Ontario, Canada and South Carolina, United States with the overarching goal of adding a new paradigm to the already established standard of exercise. The study was conducted in two phases: first, a qualitative focus-group based phase in which feedback towards attitudes towards exercise and PA was used to generate a quantitative questionnaire which was used in phase two. Our results indicate that the majority of participants from Southern Ontario and South Carolina, ages 18-64, perceive a difference between lifestyle PA and exercise (Southern Ontario, 84% of males, 80% of females; South Carolina, 82% males, 74% females), and that engaging in lifestyle PA is a more natural, realistic and enjoyable part of their day than exercise (Southern Ontario, 83% of males, 78% of females; South Carolina, 81% males, 74% females). Additionally, participants indicated a preference towards lifestyle PA as opposed to within a gym environment. Overall, Southern Ontarians and South Carolinians were consistent in their message for a more unstructured, unregimented, natural way of being physically active throughout the day. Physical activity needs to be customized, tailored and meaningful for everyone.},
doi={10.12691/jpm-8-1-1}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}