- Deborah Walton Smith: Department of Nursing, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA. smith@gem.gonzaga.edu
PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between exercise stage and decisional balance in overweight and obese individuals seeking advanced practice nurse (APN) care.
DATA SOURCES: A convenience sample of 175 persons aged 40 or above with the values of body mass index (BMI) exceeding 25.
CONCLUSIONS: One fourth of the respondents were considering beginning exercise within the next month; 23% had exercised regularly for more than 6 months and 39% indicated that they exercised regularly. Most respondents believed the pros of exercise outweighed the cons, and as the pros increased, so did the likelihood of exercising.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In approaching the subject of exercise among obese and overweight individuals it is important for the APN to understand behavioral change. Thus, it would be more fruitful to ask, "What would it take to move those who intend to begin exercising to the next stage?" For health behavior change to occur, the pros must be twice as numerous as the cons. In clinical practice, reviewing and adding to the pros of exercise as outlined by the patient might tip the decisional balance in favor of exercise.