M. Felicia Cavallini^1,, Angela M. Kolen², Xuemei Sui³, Lawrence L. Spriet⁴, Balkit King⁴, Emily Kraft⁴, Kurt Heischmidt³, Steven N. Blair³

The importance of exercise has long been substantiated as a means of preventing chronic diseases while improving quality of life. Most Canadians adults (85%) do not obtain at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week, as advocated by the current Canadian PA guidelines. In physical activity promotional efforts, it may be important to consider a different perspective on which physical activities meet these guidelines. The purpose of this study was to examine people’s beliefs, outlooks and attitudes towards physical activity and exercise. In phase I of this study, qualitative methods with phenomenological underpinnings were used. Facilitated group discussions were conducted with 234 adults from 13 diverse focus groups regarding their opinions, attitudes, outlooks, and beliefs on exercise versus physical activity. Using the transcriptions from phase I, a research-generated survey was designed by three content experts and administered to participants of the same community groups in phase II of the study to quantify feedback from phase I. Over 300 Canadian adults, ages 18 and older, provided questionnaire responses. More than 80% of the men and women preferred to meet their physical activity needs through household or lifestyle physical activities rather than structured or planned exercises. Furthermore, these men and women thought engaging in physical activity was a more natural, realistic and enjoyable part of their day than exercise. Additionally, most of these men and women think Canada’s guidelines for physical activity can be achieved through physical activity alone. Given the overwhelming preference for lifestyle physical activities, emphasizing household and work activity, leisure, and active transportation as valuable methods to the current physical activity guidelines may be prudent.

physical activity promotion, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, health promotion