Dataset for Why Weight? Development of a Tool to Identify Factors Affecting Participation of Women in Resistance Exercise

Statistics from the National Health Survey (2017-18) indicate that 54% of females (35-44 y.o) fail to reach recommended physical activity levels which is unchanged from 2011-2012 figures.  Additionally, a reported 80% of women currently have insufficient resistance exercise training levels to achieve optimal health benefits for chronic disease prevention. While the exact reason is not known, fitness professionals may play a role. The role of fitness professionals in delivering physical activity for healthy agendas has been examined and demonstrated that fitness professionals can both educate and support individuals to increase physical activity levels. With growing public awareness in the fitness industry, Personal Trainers and other health professionals require skills to promote engagement and adherence to physical activity, particularly resistance exercise training. Whilst each profession has their own scope of practice, in order to achieve a positive outcome, which to date has been limited/stagnant, some commonality between, and within scope of practices, may need to be achieved. Utilising the large body of research existing around elements to guide resistance training promotion and engagement, my project is aiming to successfully ascertain interest in provision of education/resources/advice to link research to the 'real world'. A second objective is to then develop a tool focussed on eliciting preferences and behaviours towards physical activity which could be useful to a broader sector of the community. Specifically, such a tool could be adopted by health professionals such as Exercise Physiologists, Exercise Scientists and Personal Trainers, to use within their scope of practice to better engage middle aged women in resistance exercise to sufficient levels for chronic disease prevention.

2017—2018年全国健康调查（National Health Survey）数据显示，54%的35~44岁女性未达到推荐身体活动水平，该比例与2011—2012年的调查结果无显著变化。此外，据统计，当前有80%的女性阻力训练（resistance exercise training）水平不足，无法获得预防慢性病所需的最佳健康收益。尽管确切诱因尚不明确，但健身专业人士（fitness professionals）或可发挥关键作用。已有研究对健身专业人士在推进健康导向型身体活动中的角色展开探讨，结果证实其可通过教育与支持手段，帮助个体提升身体活动水平。随着健身行业公众认知度不断提升，私人教练（Personal Trainers）及其他健康专业人士亟需掌握相关技能，以推动民众参与并坚持身体活动，尤其是阻力训练。尽管各职业均有各自的执业范围，但目前相关积极成效仍处于有限且停滞的状态，因此亟需在各执业范围之间及内部达成协同共识。本项目依托现有大量围绕阻力训练推广与参与引导要素的研究成果，旨在有效调研社区群体对将研究成果对接“现实场景”的教育、资源及咨询服务的需求；其二，本项目还计划开发一款工具，聚焦于挖掘民众参与身体活动的偏好与行为特征，该工具可服务于更广泛的社区群体。具体而言，运动生理学家（Exercise Physiologists）、运动科学家（Exercise Scientists）及私人教练等健康专业人士，可在其执业范围内使用该工具，更好地引导中年女性开展足量阻力训练，以实现慢性病预防的目标。