Prevalence and correlates of resistance training in a regional Australian population.

BACKGROUND: The core components of physical activity, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, balance and flexibility can provide many health benefits and potentially slow declines associated with aging. Aerobic exercise message to the public has been widely promoted by national health authorities, although the promotion of resistance training has received far less attention.
OBJECTIVES: In this research, the prevalence of resistance training in a sample of adults living in regional Australia was primarily assessed.
DESIGN: A computer-assisted telephone interview survey (n=1230) was conducted by the Population Research Laboratory at Central Queensland University on Queensland adults in October to November 2006. Respondents were asked to report the frequency with which they engaged in resistance training. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents were 18 years or older that could be contacted by direct-dialled, land-based telephone service. A telephone database using a computer program to select, with replacement, a simple random sample of phone numbers selected respondents.
RESULTS: Almost 14% of the population did some form of gym-based resistance training in the week before the survey. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in participation levels with age. Participation was highest amongst the youngest 18-34-year-olds (23.8%), steadily declining with age to a low of 7% in the 55 years and older age group. There was no significant association between sexes and participation in resistance training.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the need to increase overall education on the benefits of resistance training with an emphasis among targeted adult populations to increase participation in resistance training.