A health risk information strategy to change perceptions of objective health risks for physical inactivity among sedentary women

Abstract

Introduction

The present study investigated the effects of a health risk information strategy on changes in perceptions of objective health risks associated with physical inactivity among sedentary women.

Materials and methods

Thirty-eight women participated in the 12-week health risk information intervention as a strategy for strengthening the effect of health risk information on risk perception. During this period, the study participants’ objective risk factors (BMI, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, glucose, and insulin) and risk perceptions were measured. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to examine the effects of the intervention on perceptions of objective health risks.

Results

Results indicated that the health risk information strategy was substantially effective to enhance health risk perception toward heart disease and obesity over the 12-week intervention. In addition, among the objective risk factors waist circumference was a significant factor in all physical-inactivity related diseases (heart disease, obesity, and diabetes) between the risk and non-risk groups.

Conclusion

The current study suggests that the physical inactivity-related health risk information is an effective intervention strategy to change health risk perception associated with physical inactivity, which in turn, may actually reduce diseases caused by physical inactivity.