Relationships between Changes in Health and Fitness and the Perception of Exercise

Abstract

This article examines the answers respondents gave to two questions about their perception of recent changes in their health and fitness in relation to the answers respondents gave to questions asking if they thought (a) more exercise would improve their health, (b) they got as much exercise as needed, and (c) they were as active as others of a similar age. A theoretical model is discussed that emphasizes the importance of a change in the perception of health and fitness as a cue to reevaluating exercise and leisure time-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Data from 9,125 female and 7,157 male respondents collected by telephone in the urban areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh were analyzed. The analysis? indicated a strong relationship between individuals reporting a negative change in health or fitness and those individuals being of the opinion that more exercise would improve their health, that they got less exercise than they needed, and were less active than others of a similar age.

Key Words:

• physical activity
• cue to action
• perception