Predictors of perceived barriers to physical activity in the general adult population: a cross-sectional study.
Yaneth Herazo-Beltrán, Yisel Pinillos, José Vidarte and 3 others
PMID 28442074WHAT IT FOUND
Lack of motivation and time were the most common barriers to physical activity.
People with partners reported fewer barriers, while those with lower education or income reported more. These associations describe who perceives barriers, not whether interventions work.
Key findings
01Lack of motivation was the most frequently reported barrier, followed by lack of time.
02Individuals with partners were less likely to perceive lack of social support and lack of motivation as barriers.
03People from low socioeconomic levels had higher odds of perceiving lack of motivation and lack of resources as barriers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study measured barriers through self-report, which may not reflect objective reality. The cross-sectional design identifies associations but cannot prove that specific characteristics cause these perceptions. The results apply to adults in Barranquilla, Colombia, and may not generalize to other populations. The text reports slightly different counts for women (1066 in methods, 1067 in tables), which may affect the precision of percentages.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that targeting these specific demographic groups will successfully change behavior. The study identifies who perceives barriers, but it does not test whether interventions addressing these barriers actually increase physical activity.