Perceived benefits and barriers of non exercising university student

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Problem statement2

Aims and objectives4

Research questions4

Methodology5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Definition of Non exercising6

Non exercise behavior of university students6

America6

Europe6

Australia7

South America7

Exercise Benefits and Barriers7

Exercise and self-efficacy research10

Using Self-Efficacy Theory at Different Stages of Exercising13

University Students and Exercise Behavior15

Commitment to a plan of exercise18

Continuing Impact of Exercise20

REFERENCES22

APPENDICES29

Questionnaire29

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

The percentage of adults who engage in regular, consistent physical activity in the United Kingdom is dramatically low. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) estimates that in 2007 only 49% of adults attained the recommended levels of 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times a week [1]. Physical activity levels in more than 50% of UK adults are too low to provide any health benefits [2]. Activity levels are shown to decrease with age. Reaching sufficient activity levels for health benefits are less common among women than men. And, among those with lower incomes and less education physical activity levels are very low [3]. In 2008, one quarter of all UK adults (25.4%) do not participate in any form of leisure time physical activity [4]. These poor levels of physical activity in both structured and leisure time activities are key reasons for the current obesity epidemic in the UK.

Rationale

In the United Kingdom, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of obesity over the past 30 years, especially in individuals with a BMI greater than 35 [15]. In comparing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) collected between 2009-2000 and 2007-2008, the percentage of adults with a BMI greater than 30 increased from approximately 27.5% to 32.2% [51]. The prevalence of obesity has increased in UK adults in the past 30 years from 15% to 32.9% [23]. While, in November of 2007, the CDC reported that the prevalence of obesity had not increased significantly between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006, still more than 1/3 of UK are obese of which 33.3% are men and 35.3% are women. Currently, over 34 percent of UK Adults have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 [48]. This statistic equates to over 72 million obese Americans [45]. The estimated cost of obesity in the UK in 2000 was about $117 billion [9]. Traditionally, an increase in physical activity has been identified as an important factor for weight loss and weight maintenance [6]. The researcher wants to study the perceived thoughts and fears of university students regarding exercise. Exercise is very beneficial for university students as their stress is released through exercise. But many of the students have their own perceptions about exercise. The normal weight students usually think that exercise can't do any good to them.

Research Problem

Living a sedentary lifestyle can bring down one's general health. Just take a look at the statistics about people who have died from heart ailments and diseases like diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. You will see that most of the victims have been living lazy inactive lives. Well, it really pays to have increased levels of ...