MOTIVATION FOR PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

The importance of exercise for health and long-term weight management is now well-established. However, the critical challenge is facilitati ng increased physical activity in the large sector of young to middle- aged adults who are sedentary and already overweight. The psychology o f exercise initiation and adherence in the overweight is seriously und er-researched. However, it is possible to infer findings from the gene ral population and from other health behaviours to develop effective e xercise promotion strategies. Motivation and barriers to exercise, exe rcise-related beliefs, attitudes, and self-efficacy, and the formulati on of self-perceptions and identity towards exercise need to be consid ered in interventions and campaigns to capture the interests of the ge neral public. Readiness to change and behaviour change strategies need to be considered and incorporated into social support structures to f acilitate individual behaviour change. This could be delivered through community, workplace and primary health care settings.