The effect of mere-measurement of cognitions on physical activity behavior: a randomized controlled trial among overweight and obese individuals

• Published in: The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 2
• Main Authors: Godin, Gaston, Bélanger-Gravel, Ariane, Amireault, Steve, Vohl, Marie-Claude, Pérusse, Louis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11-01-2011; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Behavioral Medicine - methods; Bias; Cognition; Double-Blind Method; Exercise; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Leisure Activities - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - psychology; Obesity - therapy; Overweight - epidemiology; Overweight - psychology; Overweight - therapy; Overweight persons; Physiological aspects; Psychological aspects; Quebec - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Canada
• ISSN: 1479-5868; 1479-5868
• DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-2

The promotion of physical activity among an overweight/obese population is an important challenge for clinical practitioners and researchers. In this regard, completing a questionnaire on cognitions could be a simple and easy strategy to increase levels of physical activity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to test the effect of completing a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on the level of physical activity.
Overall, 452 overweight/obese adults were recruited and randomized to the experimental or control group. At baseline, participants completed a questionnaire on cognitions regarding their participation in leisure-time physical activity (experimental condition) versus a questionnaire on fruit and vegetable consumption (control condition). The questionnaires assessed the TPB variables that are beliefs, attitude, norm, perception of control, intention and a few additional variables from other theories. At three-month follow-up, leisure-time physical activity was self-reported by means of a short questionnaire. An analysis of covariance with baseline physical activity level as covariate was used to verify the effect of the intervention.
At follow-up, 373 participants completed the leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. The statistical analysis showed that physical activity participation was greater among participants in the experimental condition than those in the control condition (F(1,370)=6.85, p=.009, d=0.20).
Findings indicate that completing a TPB questionnaire has a significant positive impact on subsequent participation in physical activity. Consequently, asking individuals to complete such a questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and easy strategy to increase the level of physical activity among overweight/obese adults.