A SAMPLE of 60 middle-class private patients was asked about the actions they took to protect their health. The primary type of health-enhancing behav iour identified involved diet and exercise. The sam ple was divided into two age groups: 20-50 and 51-79. Within each of the age groups particular motivations and constraints concerning health-enhancing be haviour were reported. It is argued that while the people in this sample may have been orientated towards adopting health-enhancing behaviour, they faced specific constraints or motivations which influ enced their intentions. The implications for health educators are discussed.
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