A Study to Assess the Factors Affecting Adherence to Exercise in the Indian Population

Introduction As proven by many previous studies, physical inactivity is associated with many diseases, including heart conditions and cancer. The elimination of physical inactivity helps increase life expectancy and reduce morbidity. Nonadherence to exercise is a common problem faced by many people. The goal of this study was to determine the percentage of people in the Indian population who regularly exercise. We also assessed factors for nonadherence, motivating factors, and the intensity of exercise usually performed and explored any association between adherence to exercise and demographic factors. Materials and methods We conducted an anonymous questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study in an adult Indian population (participants were older than 18 years) from rural and urban areas having no contraindication to at least some form of voluntary exercise. Data were collected via email by sending a questionnaire, and an appropriate statistical methodology was used to derive the results. Results This study included 220 individuals older than 18 years, and most participants were aged 25 to 30 years (35.5%). Most participants (67.3%) were women, and 32.7% were men. Forty-one percent of the total population reported suffering from some medical condition. Nearly half (51.8%) of the subjects were involved in physical activity, and 48.2% were not involved in physical activity. The most common reason for not exercising was a lack of time followed by a lack of motivation. Maintenance of good health was the main reported benefit of physical exercise, with self-motivation being the main motivator. Low-intensity exercise was the preferred form of exercise for most of the participants; high-intensity exercise was preferred by younger participants, though less commonly than low-intensity exercise. Older participants (i.e., those aged > 40 years) preferred moderate-intensity exercise. Only half the study population were educated regarding physical activity by a healthcare professional. We found no statistically significant association between the presence of a medical condition, body mass index (BMI), or healthcare education and adherence to exercise. Conclusion The inclusion of exercise in a daily routine is one of the more important lifestyle changes advised for all ailments and for improvements in patient quality of life. Nearly half the Indian population does not exercise daily. Because we found no statistical significance between demographic factors, health conditions, BMI, or general healthcare education, an individualized education and exercise plan may help improve exercise adherence.