Culture Affects Fitness

Exercise (no surprise) and culture (surprise!) were part of the focus at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle at the end of May.

As part of the research presented, one study, conducted by Rafer Lutz, Ph.D., came to the conclusion that when under stress, college women who do not exercise regularly are less likely to exercise.

According to Lutz, “Someone who isn’t regularly active may view exercise as ‘one more burden’ when stressed.”

On the other hand, the study found college women with consistent exercise levels, “accumulate more physical activity” when similarly stressed. Lutz again expounds, “those who make it [exercise] a part of daily life may view it as a stress reliever and an escape from pressure.”

A second study presented at the Annual Meeting examined exercise differences between 400 American and Chinese college students. Researchers found that Americans exercise for weight control and physical appearance, whereas the Chinese students exercised for health and enjoyment reasons.

Lead study author, Zi Yah, M.S. concluded, “Although we didn’t study the origins of these exercise motivations, it may be a reflection of cultural values and what young people are taught to prioritize about themselves.”

Expanding this connection between exercise and culture further to include older women, another study is of note. In 2005, at the Second International Conference on Women, Heart Disease and Stroke, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing researchers proposed that exercise in tune with culture creates better program compliance.

They provided a Tai Chi program to older Chinese women with at least one major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Normally exercise programs for women with heart disease have high dropout rates but the retention rate for this one was 96% and there was a waiting list for the next session.

Part of the success of the study resulted from the researchers being culturally in tune with the group. One researcher, Ms. Taylor-Piliae had spent 15 years in Hong Kong, speaks Cantonese and is familiar with the culture. "Language was not a barrier to understanding in this study," she said. "This is important."

Researchers learned that Tai Chi appears to be a form of exercise that is safe and acceptable to Chinese women. "I think the key is to find out what already is a popular form of exercise within an ethnic group. If it is safe and is equivalent to brisk walking, then it not only may be effective, but more acceptable."