HHS HealthBeat (December 24, 2008)

Getting started, keeping going

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A few extra pounds and convenient access to exercise equipment might make a person start exercising. But what influences people to continue over time?

The answer is self-efficacy – your confidence in your ability to get it done.

David Williams of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, looked into that. His study in Annals of Behavioral Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

In his study, it took both – gear and good attitude – to get the best results.

To make the most of attitude, he says, planning helps:

[David Williams speaks] ``It’s important that we plan to exercise, to make sure that we fit it into our day. And that’s been shown to be a really big link between confidence to do it and actually carrying it out.’’

Also, he says, it helps to do something you like.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: December, 24 2008