Perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

Objective: To examine the attitudes of consumers, in particular their perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity from all EU member states, and having a measure of prevailing levels of activity, inactivity and self-reported body weight and body shape. Design: Cross-sectional survey using an interview-assisted face-to-face questionnaire. Setting: The survey was conducted between March and April 1997 in the 15 member states of the EU. Subjects: Overall, 15 239 EU subjects, classified according to sex, age ( six levels) and highest level of education attained ( primary, secondary or tertiary), completed the survey. Sample selection of subjects in each EU member state was quota-controlled to ensure they were nationally representative. Results: The most important motivation for people to participate in physical activity is to maintain good health (42%), to release tension (30%) and to get fit (30%). The importance of the health argument is highest in older persons and in subjects with a primary education level. Only 13% of the EU population (16% of women, 10% of men) perceived losing weight as a benefit of physical exercise. The most important barriers to increase physical activity are work or study commitments (28%) and the subjects' belief that they are not `the sporty type' (25%). There is considerable between-country variation in the answering pattern within the EU.