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Moderate Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Select Measures of a Healthy Diet
Author(s) -
Blakely Frank,
Dunnagan Tim,
Haynes George,
Moore Sylvia,
Pelican Suzanne
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2004.tb00023.x
Subject(s) - physical activity , context (archaeology) , gerontology , environmental health , psychology , transtheoretical model , medicine , behavior change , social psychology , physical therapy , geography , archaeology
Context: In rural communities, physical activity may influence and predict nutritional behaviors. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if an individual's stage of participation in moderate physical activity was related to select measures of a healthy diet. Methods: Data were collected using a mail‐in survey from a random sample conducted in the rural/frontier communities of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. A total of 6 communities, 2 from each state, were surveyed with approximately 575 surveys sent to each community. The response rate was 51.5%. Findings: Regression analysis revealed that there was a significant difference (P<.05) in select measures of a healthy diet between those in the maintenance stage of moderate levels of physical activity (physically active for 6 months or more) and those in precontemplation (not currently active and with no intention of starting), contemplation (not currently active but considering starting within the next 6 months), and preparation (not currently active but taking steps to become active within the next 30 days). Those in maintenance had a healthier diet. Additionally, women, older people, those with at least some college education, and those who were employed had healthier diets. Conclusions: These results lend preliminary support to the idea that moderate physical activity could act as a gateway behavior, a behavior that, if adopted, could lead to the adoption of other healthy behaviors. However, additional research is needed to confirm the nature, if any, of this relationship.