Learning Objective #1: Describe the traits of a group of physically active women and compare them to inactive women

Learning Objective #2: Identify strategies to help women increase their levels of physical activity

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Compelling evidence documents the benefits of physical activity. Despite a Healthy People 2010 goal to decrease the proportion of inactive women to 20%, 40% of women get no physical activity. Nurse clinicians are key players in promoting increased activity. Clinicians need to know traits of persons who are active in order to focus interventions that are efficient and effective. This cross-sectional study compared traits of working women who were physically active with inactive women. Variables included benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, demographic, and biological traits. Data were obtained from 373 working women, 23% of whom were physically active. T-tests and chi square tests identified differences between the active and inactive participants. Active women saw more benefits and fewer barriers to physical activity. They had significantly lower body mass indexes (p = .001). Their mean BMI was 26.8, compared to 30.5 for inactive women. They had lower mean HDL-Cholesterols--62.3 mg/dl, compared to 54.5 mg/dl for inactive women (p < .001). Active women were more likely to report a history of physical activity. (p < .001). They were better educated (p = .001) and more likely to be unmarried (p =.005). A regression model revealed that the traits and beliefs that differentiate physically active and inactive women were: previous physical activity for at least 3 months, confidence in their ability to engage in activity in bad weather, and the belief that physical activity is not too time consuming. These three variables correctly categorized 81% of the participants as active or inactive. Clinicians are in unique positions to help women increase physical activity by providing a supportive environment that enhances self-efficacy and focuses on strategies that help decrease barriers to activity, especially by developing contingency plans related to lack of time and bad weather.