TY - JOUR
T1 - Moderate Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Select Measures of a Healthy Diet
AU - Blakely, Frank
AU - Dunnagan, Tim
AU - Haynes, George
AU - Moore, Sylvia
AU - Pelican, Suzanne
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1642388379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2004.tb00023.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2004.tb00023.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15085630
AN - SCOPUS:1642388379
SN - 0890-765X
VL - 20
SP - 160
EP - 165
JO - Journal of Rural Health
JF - Journal of Rural Health
IS - 2
ER -