Barriers to physical activity among women in the rural midwest

Physical activity is an important factor in chronic disease control and prevention. Yet women and rural residents consistently report lower rates of physical activity than their male and urban/suburban counterparts. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between personal, social, and environmental barriers and meeting moderate physical activity recommendations in a sample of rural women. Data were obtained from a telephone survey of 2,510 residents of rural southeastern Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas. After adjusting for age and income, women who identified personal barriers, such as lack of time, no motivation, disinterest in exercise, and having no one to exercise with were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations. There was evidence of a dose-response relationship between the number of barriers identified and meeting moderate physical activity recommendations among women with higher incomes and women with lower incomes; however, this relationship was most striking among women with annual household incomes of $25,000 or more. These findings may be used to tailor physical activity interventions to women in rural communities.