The effect of mere-measurement of cognitions on physical activity behavior: a randomized controlled trial among overweight and XXXX individuals.

@entity1 @entity28
BACKGROUND: The promotion of physical activity among an overweight/ @entity28 population is an important challenge for clinical practitioners and researchers. In this regard, completing a questionnaire on cognitions could be a simple and easy strategy to increase levels of physical activity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to test the effect of completing a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on the level of physical activity. METHODS: Overall, 452 overweight/ @entity28 adults were recruited and randomized to the experimental or control group. At baseline, @entity1 completed a questionnaire on cognitions regarding their participation in leisure-time physical activity (experimental condition) versus a questionnaire on fruit and vegetable consumption (control condition). The questionnaires assessed the TPB variables that are beliefs, attitude, norm, perception of control, intention and a few additional variables from other theories. At three-month follow-up, leisure-time physical activity was self-reported by means of a short questionnaire. An analysis of covariance with baseline physical activity level as covariate was used to verify the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: At follow-up, 373 @entity1 completed the leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. The statistical analysis showed that physical activity participation was greater among @entity1 in the experimental condition than those in the control condition (F(1,370)=6.85, p=.009, d=0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that completing a TPB questionnaire has a significant positive impact on subsequent participation in physical activity. Consequently, asking individuals to complete such a questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and easy strategy to increase the level of physical activity among overweight/ @entity28 adults.
