Physical Activity Levels In Obese And Non-Obese Women And Their Relationship With Body Mass Index, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Perceived Benefits And Barriers Of Exercise, And Commitment To A Plan Of Action

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS IN OBESE AND NON-OBESE WOMEN AND THEIRRELATIONSHIP WITH BODY MASS INDEX, PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY,PERCEIVED BENEFITS AND BARRIERS OF EXERCISE, AND COMMITMENT TO APLAN OF ACTIONby ROSE M. LANGEAugust 2010 Advisor: Dr. Feleta WilsonMajor: NursingDegree: Doctor of PhilosophyThe purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine relationships amongselected variables and concepts within the Health Promotion Model (perceived benefits,perceived barriers to exercise, self-efficacy, commitment to plan of action) in non-obese and obese women with a focus on the behavioral outcome of physical activity (leisure & lifestyle). Agroup of 137 women, aged 18-50 participated in this study. BMI was found to be positivelycorrelated to an individual’s perceived barriers to action. Findings did not support the hypothesisthat as BMI increases perceived benefits, self-efficacy, commitment to a plan of action andphysical activity levels would decrease. Commitment to a plan of action was found to be asignificant predictor of both types of physical activity. Commitment to a plan of actionpredicted 58% of the variance in leisure physical activity (exercise) and 6% of lifestyle physical activity.Non-obese women had lower levels of self-efficacy related to exercise in areassurrounding time commitments and interruptions in everyday life compared to the obeseparticipants. The obese participants significantly reported lower levels of self-efficacy related to