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Table 2 Differences in health behaviors and weight status in a randomly selected sample of YMCA members by length of membership (n = 135)

From: Body mass index, physical activity, and dietary behaviors among members of an urban community fitness center: a questionnaire survey

Health behavior

Variable

Member 1 year or less (n = 46) (%) a

Member more than 1 year (n = 89) (%) a

Physical activity

  

150 minutes/week or greater

41 (89%)

84 (94%)

Interest in changing physical activity

  

Very interested

28 (61%)

44 (49%)

Somewhat interested

7 (15%)

21 (24%)

A little bit interested

5 (11%)

6 (7%)

Not at all interested

6 (13%)

18 (20%)

Stages of change for physical activity

  

Preparation

37 (80%)

61 (70%)

Contemplation

2 (4%)

5 (6%)

Precontemplation

7 (15%)

21 (24%)

Self-efficacy for changing physical activity

  

Sure

31 (67%)

73 (83%)

Maybe

12 (26%)

12 (14%)

Not at all sure

3 (7%)

3 (3%)

Dietary

  

5+ servings of fruits and vegetables per day

11 (24%)

17 (19%)

Multivitamin use b

  

7 days/week

13 (28%)

46 (52%)

1–6 days/week

9 (20%)

8 (9%)

Never

24 (52%)

35 (39%)

Interest in changing dietary habits

  

Very interested

17 (37%)

31 (35%)

Somewhat interested

16 (35%)

26 (29%)

A little bit interested

3 (7%)

16 (18%)

Not at all interested

10 (22%)

16 (18%)

Stages of change for dietary habits

  

Preparation

27 (59%)

58 (66%)

Contemplation

4 (9%)

3 (3%)

Precontemplation

15 (33%)

27 (31%)

Self-efficacy for changing dietary habits

  

Sure

29 (64%)

65 (74%)

Maybe

10 (22%)

18 (20%)

Not at all sure

6 (13%)

5 (6%)

Body mass index (BMI)

  

Underweight (Less than 18.5 kg/m2)

2 (4%)

0 (0%)

Normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m2)

20 (44%)

27 (31%)

Overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2)

15 (33%)

41 (48%)

Obese (30.0 kg/m2 or higher)

8 (18%)

18 (21%)

Interest in losing weight

  

Very or somewhat interested

33 (72%)

65 (73%)

A little bit or not at all interested

13 (28%)

24 (27%)

  1. a) Percentage of available cases. Percentage values might not total 100 due to rounding.
  2. b) p = 0.01; null hypothesis of no difference in characteristic by length of membership.