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.

Keywords

• Objective health risks
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Risk perception
• Physical inactivity