Public perceptions and behaviour on healthy eating and exercise

Abstract

This small-scale descriptive exploratory, non experimental design, views public perceptions and behaviour as perceived on healthy eating and exercise. The inclusion criteria involved males and females living in Malta aged 18 years and over and willing to participate. Eight subjects were included for the main study using random sampling. A structured interview generated both qualitative and quantitative data. In addition to this ethical issues were considered and a pilot study conducted. The findings indicated a partial understanding in defining healthy eating and exercise. A positive perception of benefits was noted in both variables. To what related healthy eating and exercise findings showed that people thought they were eating healthy but in reality they were not. Hence, findings revealed that the respondents perceptions on healthy and exercise were not equivalent to real practice. Add to this, 100% of the respondents connected barriers in practicing exercise and eat healthy. Work was the most perceived obstacle. The results suggested that this partial understanding conveyed by the respondents on healthy eating and exercise should be translated by health care personnel into practical and accurate information. Recommendations propose further research on the topic, having a study being in large scale to enable generalizabile results