Table 4.
Perceived health benefits of physical activity (PA) and their frequencies
| General benefits of PA participation (N = 378) | Frequency, n (%)* | Chronic disease related benefits of PA participation (N = 378) | Frequency, n (%)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increases alertness/activeness |
129 (34.1) |
Reduces/controls weight |
46 (12.2) |
| Helps in relaxation |
79 (20.9) |
Prevents diseases |
37 (9.9) |
| Reduces stress |
60 (15.9) |
Reduces/controls BP |
11 (2.9) |
| Increases strength/fitness |
59 (15.6) |
Reduces/controls cholesterol |
11 (2.9) |
| Promotes sleep |
41 (10.8) |
Increases life span |
8 (2.1) |
| Improves digestion |
38 (10.1) |
Prevents/controls diabetes |
5 (1.3) |
| Makes one feel good/happy |
32 (8.5) |
||
| Improves flexibility/reduces stiffness |
26 (6.9) |
||
| Reduces joint pain |
25(6.6) |
||
| Improves appetite/hunger |
14 (3.7) |
||
| Improves circulation |
13 (3.4) |
||
| Increases endurance |
12 (3.2) |
||
| Removes impurities |
5 (1.3) |
||
| Increases immunity |
3 (0.8) |
||
| Reduces/prevents constipation | 3 (0.8) | ||
*Percentage of responses do not add up to 100% due to non-mutually exclusive responses.