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Perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Hans-Joachim Franz Zunft ,
Dietlinde Friebe ,
Brigitte Seppelt ,
Kurt Widhalm ,
Anne-Marie Remaut de Winter ,
Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida ,
John M Kearney  and
Michael Gibney
Hans-Joachim Franz Zunft
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, D-14558 Bergholz-Rehbruecke, Germany
Dietlinde Friebe
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, D-14558 Bergholz-Rehbruecke, Germany
Brigitte Seppelt
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, D-14558 Bergholz-Rehbruecke, Germany
Kurt Widhalm
Affiliation:
University Kinderklinik, Wahringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Anne-Marie Remaut de Winter
Affiliation:
University of GhentFaculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Science, CISNA/ICFSN, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida
Affiliation:
Curso de Ciencias da Nutricao, R Dr Roberto Frias, 4000-Porto, Portugal
John M Kearney
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Michael Gibney
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

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Objective

To examine the attitudes of consumers, in particular their perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity from all EU member states, and having a measure of prevailing levels of activity, inactivity and self-reported body weight and body shape.

Design

Cross-sectional survey using an interview-assisted face-to-face questionnaire.

Setting

The survey was conducted between March and April 1997 in the 15 member states of the EU.

Subjects

Overall, 15 239 EU subjects, classified according to sex, age (six levels) and highest level of education attained (primary, secondary or tertiary), completed the survey. Sample selection of subjects in each EU member state was quota-controlled to ensure they were nationally representative.

Results

The most important motivation for people to participate in physical activity is to maintain good health (42%), to release tension (30%) and to get fit (30%). The importance of the health argument is highest in older persons and in subjects with a primary education level. Only 13% of the EU population (16% of women, 10% of men) perceived losing weight as a benefit of physical exercise. The most important barriers to increase physical activity are work or study commitments (28%) and the subjects' belief that they are not ‘the sporty type’ (25%). There is considerable between-country variation in the answering pattern within the EU.

Keywords

Physical activityExerciseSportsHealthBody weightBody shapeConsumer attitudesMotivationBenefitsBarriers
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 2 , Supplement 1a , January 1999 , pp. 153 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1999

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