Physical inactivity among midlife women: Understanding norms, goals, and behavior.

Background and aims. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing many conditions that are at epidemic proportions, and that women have a higher risk of developing than men (e.g., obesity, diabetes, depression). Unfortunately, maintaining a physically active lifestyle is among the most challenging endeavors for many adults, and midlife women are less active than men. Exercise is commonly promoted as a way to control body weight. While promoting exercise for weight-related goals may seem appropriate, our previous data suggest this approach may actually lead to decreased exercise participation among women in midlife. The overall aim of this research was to study midlife women's physical activity goals and identify which goals may help and which may hinder sustaining physical activity. Methods . Four hundred participants were randomly selected from a sample of 843 women (40--60 years old) who worked in administrative jobs at the University of Michigan. Longitudinal data were collected at three time points. Results. There was a 71% response rate at baseline (n = 275), and 97% and 87% retention rates at the one-month and one-year post-baseline data collections, respectively. Participants exercised mainly for five reasons: (1) Health (40%); (2) Weight Loss (21%); (3) Stress Reduction (14%); (4) Sense of Wellbeing (12%); and (5) Weight Maintenance/Toning (11%). Participants with both weight-loss and health-related goals participated in significantly less physical activity than those with goals related to sense of wellbeing or stress reduction. Discussion. These data indicate that midlife women with the most frequently endorsed exercise goals (i.e., weight loss, health) are less motivated than those with goals related to stress reduction or sense of wellbeing. Moreover, women with weight loss and/or health-related goals participate in the least amount of physical activity overtime. These findings may seem counter-intuitive given that these exercise goals are the most commonly endorsed by public awareness campaigns and healthcare practitioners. Therefore the findings of this study suggest that clinicians and social marketers aiming to increase participation among midlife women might be more successful if they promote physical activity as a means to enhance quality of life rather than to lose weight or promote health.Ph.D.Behavioral psychologyHealth and Environmental SciencesKinesiologyPsychologyPublic healthSocial SciencesWomen's studiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/126287/2/3238082.pd