Formative Assessment of Physical Activity Interests and Barriers

Abstract

To combat obesity, which is disproportionately high among limited‐resource audiences, nutrition educators are being called upon to recommend increased physical activity. To ensure valid, culturally appropriate and behaviorally‐focused recommendations are made, research is needed on the target audiences’ activity preferences, practical considerations related to increasing activity, and barriers to exercise. This project's aim was to gather pilot data on these matters via four focus groups with adults from a low‐income, urban community in which study participants were primarily Hispanic and Black. Those who exercised predicatably mentioned activities such as walking and playing basketball; however, many participants considered the physical labor they performed at work and at home to constitute sufficient activity. Lack of acclimation to New Jersey's climate was frequently mentioned as a barrier to achieving physical activity goals, as were long work hours, childcare issues, physical disablities, and lifestyle conflicts like smoking. Traditional guidance fails to account for these considerations, thus strong physical activity advice will require additional research and message tailoring to meet audience needs, and account for their activity norms and obstacles. Funding was provided by Rutgers University and the NJ Agricultural Experiemnt Station.