title: The effect of mere-measurement of cognitions on physical activity behavior: a randomized controlled trial among overweight and obese individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The promotion of physical activity among an overweight/obese 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/obese adults were recruited and randomized to the experimental or control group. At baseline, participants 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 participants completed the leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. The statistical analysis showed that physical activity participation was greater among participants 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/obese adults.
authors.affiliation: Canada Research Chair on Behavior and Health, Faculty of Nursing, Laval University, Quebec city (Quebec), Canada. Gaston.Godin@fsi.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godin
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bélanger-Gravel
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amireault
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vohl
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérusse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001524:Behavioral Medicine / Q000379:methods; D015982:Bias; D003071:Cognition; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires