Abstract

HERAZO BELTRAN, Yaneth; HERNANDEZ ESCOLAR, Jacqueline  and  DOMINGUEZ ANAYA, Regina. Stages of change and levels of phusucal activity in university students of Cartagena (Colombia). Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.2, pp.298-318. ISSN 0120-5552.

Objective: Estimating the stages of change in relation to physical activity in young uni-versity people of both sexes. Methods: Cross-sectional study on 301 students of a private University in the city of Cartagena. Physical activity levels were estimated from the energy expenditure in METs, using the short version of the International physical activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The stages of change through a survey that found six stages: precontemplación, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and relapse. The differences between the groups identi-fied by Chi2 test. Results: 60% of respondents are in the first three stages of change and only 44%t are physically active. Students categorized in stages precontemplatión, contemplation and preparation presented lower energy expenditure (EMT); while subjects in action and maintenance stages showed greater consumption. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between energy expenditure (METs) and the stages of change for physical activity. It is suggested that interventions to promote physical activity should consider each stage of change.

Keywords : motor activity; students; stages of change.

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