Factors Associated with Regular Exercise

Abstract

Using a telephone survey, this study investigated participation in exercise, the reasons for exercising, and the role of health and fitness facilities in promoting regular exercise. For the sample of 450 adults living in southern New York State and having an annual household income of at least $50,000, in contrast to estimates indicating that a majority of Americans do not exercise regularly, results from this telephone survey indicated that 62.7% of the respondents engaged in regular exercise. Staying in shape was given by 34.9% of the respondents as their major reason. Another 31.7% reported that they exercise to keep healthy. Use of a health club was associated with regular exercise. A lack of time emerged as the major impediment to exercising regularly. Apart from the high percentage of regular exercisers in the sample under study, these results generally confirm previous research on participation in regular exercise and the factors supporting it.