Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Many Australian young men (18-25 years) fail to meet recommendations in national dietary or physical activity (PA) guidelines. However, there is a lack of understanding of their perspectives on PA and diet to inform intervention design. This study examined young men’s motivators and barriers to heal...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2017-03-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Men's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316680936 |
| _version_ | 1818445941381791744 |
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| author | Lee M. Ashton MSc Melinda J. Hutchesson PhD Megan E. Rollo PhD Philip J. Morgan PhD Clare E. Collins PhD |
| author_facet | Lee M. Ashton MSc Melinda J. Hutchesson PhD Megan E. Rollo PhD Philip J. Morgan PhD Clare E. Collins PhD |
| author_sort | Lee M. Ashton MSc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many Australian young men (18-25 years) fail to meet recommendations in national dietary or physical activity (PA) guidelines. However, there is a lack of understanding of their perspectives on PA and diet to inform intervention design. This study examined young men’s motivators and barriers to healthy eating and PA, along with differences by demographic and behavioral factors. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 282 men aged 18 to 25 years in Australia. Results identified the most common motivators for healthy eating included improving health (63.5%), body image (52.3%), and increasing energy (32.1%). Motivators for PA included improving body image (44.6%), fitness (44.2%), and health (41.0%). Common barriers to healthy eating were access to unhealthy foods (61.1%), time to cook/prepare healthy foods (55.0%), and motivation to cook healthy foods (50.7%). Barriers for PA included motivation (66.3%), time (57.8%), and cost of equipment/facilities (33.3%). Significant differences ( p < .01) in motivators to healthy eating and/or PA were identified for BMI category, marital status, PA level, alcohol intake, and stress levels. Significant differences were identified for barriers to healthy eating and/or PA by BMI, PA level, stress, and fruit and vegetable intake, assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Findings suggest that promotion of benefits related to health, appearance/body image, increased energy and fitness, and addressing key barriers including motivation, time, financial restraints, and accessibility of unhealthy foods, could engage young men in improving lifestyle behaviors. Differences by demographic and behavioral factors suggest development of tailored programs to address diversity among young men may be required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:39:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba638214249c4ebeabe42a4f0f28eed8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1557-9883 1557-9891 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:39:50Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba638214249c4ebeabe42a4f0f28eed82022-12-21T22:49:44ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98831557-98912017-03-011110.1177/1557988316680936Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical ActivityLee M. Ashton MSc0Melinda J. Hutchesson PhD1Megan E. Rollo PhD2Philip J. Morgan PhD3Clare E. Collins PhD4University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaMany Australian young men (18-25 years) fail to meet recommendations in national dietary or physical activity (PA) guidelines. However, there is a lack of understanding of their perspectives on PA and diet to inform intervention design. This study examined young men’s motivators and barriers to healthy eating and PA, along with differences by demographic and behavioral factors. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 282 men aged 18 to 25 years in Australia. Results identified the most common motivators for healthy eating included improving health (63.5%), body image (52.3%), and increasing energy (32.1%). Motivators for PA included improving body image (44.6%), fitness (44.2%), and health (41.0%). Common barriers to healthy eating were access to unhealthy foods (61.1%), time to cook/prepare healthy foods (55.0%), and motivation to cook healthy foods (50.7%). Barriers for PA included motivation (66.3%), time (57.8%), and cost of equipment/facilities (33.3%). Significant differences ( p < .01) in motivators to healthy eating and/or PA were identified for BMI category, marital status, PA level, alcohol intake, and stress levels. Significant differences were identified for barriers to healthy eating and/or PA by BMI, PA level, stress, and fruit and vegetable intake, assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Findings suggest that promotion of benefits related to health, appearance/body image, increased energy and fitness, and addressing key barriers including motivation, time, financial restraints, and accessibility of unhealthy foods, could engage young men in improving lifestyle behaviors. Differences by demographic and behavioral factors suggest development of tailored programs to address diversity among young men may be required.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316680936 |
| spellingShingle | Lee M. Ashton MSc Melinda J. Hutchesson PhD Megan E. Rollo PhD Philip J. Morgan PhD Clare E. Collins PhD Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity American Journal of Men's Health |
| title | Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity |
| title_full | Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity |
| title_fullStr | Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity |
| title_short | Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity |
| title_sort | motivators and barriers to engaging in healthy eating and physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316680936 |
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