Examination of obese individuals' health belief attitudes towards exercise according to variables

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the health belief attitudes of obese individuals towards exercise within the framework of various demographic variables and to reveal how these attitudes differ according to the variables. Methods: The study was conducted on 1384 individuals living in Kırıkkale province and diagnosed with obesity. The quantitative research method was used in the study, and in order to collect data, a personal information form including gender, age, height, weight, marital status, smoking, alcohol use, chronic disease status, and the Health Beliefs Towards Exercise Attitude Scale were used. The scale consists of a total of 20 items and three factors (health development, cognitive health, and continuity) and does not contain any items that need to be reverse coded. The Cronbach alpha value of the scale is 0.943. Parametric tests were used to analyze the data to determine the differences between groups. Results: The results of the analysis revealed that women had more positive health beliefs towards exercise than men. In addition, the health belief attitudes of married individuals were generally stronger than those of single individuals. Participants who did not smoke or drink alcohol were found to have higher levels of health beliefs about exercise. Interestingly, men and singles scored higher on the “continuity” dimension than other groups, indicating that their motivation to continue exercising was stronger. These findings suggest that exercise attitudes among obese individuals may differ according to demographic characteristics. Conclusion: The findings of the study emphasize that strengthening health beliefs is critical for improving exercise habits in obese individuals. Considering that attitudes and beliefs towards exercise are influenced by factors such as gender, marital status, and habits, it is necessary to plan interventions that are individualized and sensitive to demographic characteristics. These results may provide guidance for health professionals, exercise experts, and policymakers in making obesity management and exercise programs more effective.