Summary
Background
Most adults with overweight/obesity participating in behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs never achieve prescribed physical activity (PA) levels. This study examined changes in PA barriers, their relationships with accelerometer‐measured PA during and after a 12‐month BWL program, and associations between PA barriers and participant characteristics.
Methods
Adults (N=283) in a BWL program completed the Barriers to Being Active Quiz, a 21‐item self‐report measure that assesses seven perceived PA barriers, and wore an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days at baseline, 6‐months (mid‐treatment), 12‐months (end‐of‐treatment), 18‐months (6‐month follow‐up), and 24‐months (12‐month follow‐up). Weight and height were measured and demographic information was collected at baseline.
Results
Repeated‐measures ANOVAs revealed a significant quadratic effect of time on total PA barriers, p<.001, such that PA barriers decreased by mid‐treatment, remained below baseline levels by end‐of‐treatment, but increased to near‐baseline levels by follow‐up. Perceived PA barriers were negatively associated with baseline MVPA, p<.001, and decreases in perceived PA barriers were related to greater MVPA at 6‐ (p=.004), 12‐ (p<.001), and 24‐months (p=.007). Participants who were younger, p=.02, and White, p=.009, reported more baseline barriers.
Conclusions
Perceived PA barriers meaningfully decreased during BWL treatment, which in turn was associated with greater MVPA. This pattern suggests that, on average, BWL effectively addresses perceived PA barriers, which contributes to increased PA. Future research should identify interventions to maintain decreases in barriers after end‐of‐treatment.