Awareness of chronic disease related health benefits of physical activity among residents of a rural South Indian region: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity trends for a lower-middle income country like India suggest a gradual decline in work related physical activity and no concomitant increase in leisure time physical activity. Perceived health benefits of physical activity and intention to increase physical activity have been established as independent correlates of physical activity status. In India, not much is known about peoples’ perceptions of health benefits of physical activity and their intention to increase physical activity levels. This study was performed to understand peoples’ perceptions and awareness about health benefits of physical activity in a rural South Indian region.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage cluster sampling design. A content validated, field tested questionnaire was administered in person by a trained interviewer in the participants’ native language. The questionnaire assessed the participants’ perceptions about their lifestyle (active or sedentary), health benefits of physical activity and need for increasing their physical activity. In addition, the participant’s physical activity was assessed using version 2 of global physical activity questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarise perceived health benefits of physical activity and other categorical variables. Age and body mass index were summarised using mean ± SD, whereas physical activity (MET.min.wk −1) was summarised using median and interquartile range.ResultsFour hundred fifty members from 125 randomly selected households were included in the study, of which 409 members participated. 89% (364) of participants felt they lead an active lifestyle and 83.1% (340) of participants did not feel a need to increase their physical activity level. 86.1%, (352) of the participants were physically active. Though 92.4% (378) of participants felt there were health benefits of physical activity, majority of them (75.1%) did not report any benefit related to chronic diseases. None mentioned health benefits related to heart disease or stroke.ConclusionThere is low awareness of chronic disease related benefits of physical activity and participants do not see a need to increase their physical activity level. Public health awareness programs on importance and health benefits of physical activity would be useful to counter the anticipated decline in physical activity.

Effects of the Pulmonary Hypertension Manual (PulHMan) on Awareness of Exercise in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

“…However, this high level of awareness among them was related to the health benefits of walking for diabetes and obesity -not to PH. This echoes a similar finding on the benefits of physical activity from the same region [12]. Nevertheless, at the end of three months, it is interesting to note how this awareness, even though its level stayed the same, was more tuned towards benefits in PH.…”

Perceptions of physical activity and walking in an early stage after stroke or acquired brain injury

“…That persons with stroke are aware of the relationship between PA and good physical health have also been confirmed previously [10, 20], even though some studies [25, 40, 41] reported the opposite. For example one study from Chicago (USA) showed that 40% of participants didn´t believe that exercise would improve their condition [25].…”

Neighborhood-based differences in walkability, physical activity, and weight status in India

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