Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity According to Stage of Change and Body Mass Index in the West Virginia Wisewoman Population

Purpose

Low-income Appalachian women aged 40–64 years are an understudied population relative to physical activity barriers. To inform a cardiovascular risk factor intervention targeting this population through the West Virginia WISEWOMAN program, we determined at baseline participants' perceptions about the presence of 6 barriers to physical activity and respective differences according to stage of readiness for change (SOC).

Methods

Low-income women aged 40–64 who had participated in a state cancer screening program were recruited through 13 clinics. Participants were interviewed at clinics using a health risk/behavioral survey that included questions about barriers to and SOC for physical activity. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured.

Principal Findings

Baseline screening was completed by 733 women; 84% were overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25–29.9 [24.1%]) or obese (BMI ≥ 30 [59.8%]). The prevalence of barriers was greatest for lack of support (52.4%) and lack of willpower (50.8%); lack of time was reported by only 30.1%. On χ² test, significant differences were revealed across SOC for time (p = .026), don't need more physical activity (p = .003), and willpower (p < 001); and for time (p = .006) and don't need more (p < .000) across BMI categories. Time increased from precontemplation (21.1%) to maintenance (35%). Obese participants reported time less frequently (25.7%) than participants of normal weight (40.2%).

Conclusions

Lack of willpower and support—not time—seem to be the dominant physical activity barriers in the West Virginia WISEWOMAN population. Interventions targeting willpower in early SOC and in obese participants may be promising toward increasing physical activity.