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other·public health, epidemiology, family medicine, geriatrics, research methods·PMC10321001

Barriers and enablers of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) in physically inactive adults: a focus group study

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 13 authors, 13 centres

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TL;DR

This qualitative study used focus groups to identify barriers and enablers of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) among 78 physically inactive middle-aged and older Australian adults. The study found that barriers and enablers spanned physical and psychological capability, opportunity, and motivation, suggesting future interventions may require limited age-specific customization.

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The study employed a qualitative design with 19 online focus groups involving 78 physically inactive adults across three age groups. Using thematic analysis within the COM-B framework, researchers identified 6 barriers (e.g., physical limitations, need for knowledge) and 10 enablers (e.g., convenience, use of prompts, normalization of active choices) to VILPA. The findings suggest that barriers and enablers are interconnected across capability, opportunity, and motivation.

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other

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public health

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10321001

Barriers and enablers of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) in physically inactive adults: a focus group study

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

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ABSTRACT

Background Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) refers to brief bouts of vigorous intensity physical activity performed as part of daily living. VILPA has been proposed as a novel concept to expand physical activity options among the least active. As a nascent area of research, factors which impede or encourage VILPA in physically inactive adults are yet to be explored. Such information is pertinent in the design of future interventions. We examined the barriers and enablers of VILPA among physically inactive adults using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) model as a conceptual framework. Methods We recruited a sample of self-identified physically inactive middle-aged and older adults ( N = 78) based in Australia to take part in 19 online focus groups across three age groups: young-middle (age 35–44), middle (age 45–59) and old (age 60–76). We analyzed interviews using a critical realist approach to thematic analysis. Identified barriers and enablers were subsequently mapped onto the COM-B model components. Results The data generated 6 barriers and 10 enablers of VILPA that corresponded to COM-B concepts. Barriers included physical limitations (physical capability), perceptions of aging, need for knowledge (psychological capability), environmental constraints (physical opportunity), perceptions of effort and energy, and fear (automatic motivation). Enablers included convenience, reframing physical activity as purposeful movement, use of prompts and reminders (physical opportunity), normalization of taking the active option, gamification (social opportunity), sense of achievement, health improvements, personally salient rewards (reflective motivation), identity fit, and changing from effortful deliberation to habitual action (automatic motivation). Conclusion The barriers and enablers of VILPA span capability, opportunity, and motivation beliefs. Promoting the time-efficient nature and simplicity of VILPA requiring no equipment or special gym sessions, the use of prompts and reminders at opportune times, and habit formation strategies could capitalize on the enablers. Addressing the suitability of the small bouts, the development of specific guidelines, addressing safety concerns, and explicating the potential benefits of, and opportunities to do, VILPA could ameliorate some of the barriers identified. Future VILPA interventions may require limited age customization, speaking to the potential for such interventions to be delivered at scale. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01480-8.

CITATION EXPORT

C. Thøgersen-Ntoumani, M. Kritz, A. Grunseit et al.. Barriers and enablers of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) in physically inactive adults: a focus group study. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01480-8

AUTHORS

13 · 13 CENTRES

C. Thøgersen-Ntoumani, M. Kritz, A. Grunseit, J. Chau, M. Ahmadi, A. Holtermann, A. Koster, C. Tudor-Locke, N. Johnson, C. Sherrington, S. Paudel, C. Maher, E. Stamatakis

1grid.10825.3e0000 0001 0728 0170Danish Center for Motivation and Behavior Science (DRIVEN), Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
2grid.1032.00000 0004 0375 4078Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
3grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
4grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
5grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XMackenzie Wearables Research Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
6grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
7grid.418079.30000 0000 9531 3915National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
8grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
9grid.266859.60000 0000 8598 2218College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, USA
10grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
11grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
12grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
13grid.1026.50000 0000 8994 5086Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia