Factors affecting the likelihood to engage in adequate physical activity to promote health

The aim of this study was to assess the likelihood of individuals to participate in enough physical activity to promote fitness and, more conservatively, to accrue only health benefits. Sedentary (n = 883; 20.5%) and active (n = 1144; 26.5%) groups were identified from the 1990 Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey of English adults (n = 4316). The data were analysed using logistic regression. Participants were described using 20 variables identified from previous research, six of which made a significant contribution to the model (P < 0.05). The odds of being sedentary increased with age, self-perception of lifestyle problems, and lower scores on education, self-perception of motivation to exercise, perception of own participation in physical activity and recognition of exercising enough for health benefits. The odds of being active were associated with the opposite characteristics to those observed for sedentary behaviour. The extreme scores varied from individuals who may be 385 times more likely to be sedentary, to those who were 29 times more likely to be active, depending on scores on the selected variables. The results of this study provide a means to determine individual propensity to participate in adequate physical activity, and to identify those who may benefit most from health promotion campaigns.