Get Fit! To Increase Exercise, Focus on How, Not Why!
Set goals and get motivated to get in shape!
-E. Martin, University of Missouri
We all have heard time and time again that exercise has numerous health benefits, besides just weight loss! Exercise is important to maintain and improve health; however, sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates have become major public health issues.
Researchers at the University of Missouri examined the methods commonly used for changing people’s lagging, couch potato lifestyles. What’s the solution?! An intervention! They found that adults who received interventions focused on behavior-changing strategies, including goal-setting and physician feedback, significantly increased their physical activity levels.
Interventions which try to change knowledge and attitudes, did not improve physical activity. Health providers commonly provide advice or information rather than specific goals or plans for patients. So the key here is, we all KNOW that exercise is important, but we need to be shown HOW to incorporate it into our lifestyles!