The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast Southern Ontarian and South Carolinian adults to examine adults' psychological, lack of time and physical barriers to PA and exercise. We also sought to determine whether any gender differences existed in the identification of prominent barriers to PA. In each geographical location (Southern Ontario and South Carolina), focus groups were first held amongst diverse groups to identify common perceptions and attitudes towards PA and exercise, followed by a more in-depth survey to quantify these perceptions and attitudes. Lack of time was consistently the most commonly identified type of general barrier to PA among adults aged 18-64 years, in both South Carolina and Southern Ontario. This was true of both males and females. The most commonly indicated barriers across both age groups and populations were: "Other things are more important and require my time and energy", "I have a difficult time finding the time needed to fit the gym into my day", "Once I get home, it's difficult to find time to be active", and "There are so many other things for me to do, it's easy to make excuses rather than exercise". The only significant difference in responses amongst genders was in Southern Ontario, where females indicated "inclement weather" as a significant physical barrier. Interestingly, negative perceptions of exercise (pain, lack of interest) do not appear to be significant barriers. Overall, lack of time, whether perceived or real, is the major barrier to PA in adults 18-64 years old. Examining and identifying perceived barriers to exercise and PA is necessary in order to develop successful intervention programs. Meeting the PA guidelines require creative methods with a better appreciation for personal preferences. This will help improve the way we promote, educate and inspire others to have the confidence to be more active.

Most American and Canadian adults do not obtain the recommended PA guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening activity each week. Decades of attempting to increase PA within the adult population have clearly fallen short. What do we know about adult preferences, barriers and perceptions to PA and exercise that can influence the way we promote, connect and educate communities to move in a way that is more meaningful for them and likely to continue throughout adulthood and beyond? The purpose of this mini-review is to provide a rationale for the need to promote community lifestyle PA in a variety of ways based on research findings that can help educate, inspire and motivate all populations to become more engaged in PA. Customized, tailored, community PA visuals which are culturally and environmentally specific will be presented. Community graphics representing a small town (MyGaffney Activity), a mid-size town (MyGuelph Activity), a US state (MySouthCarolina Activity), and an airport (MyAirport Activity) will be introduced. The ultimate goal is to incorporate an effective PA intervention through a lifestyle PA paradigm addition, which will emulate a more realistic, doable, enjoyable, and natural form of PA in addition to the already established traditional exercise model for the benefit of the public to increase PA levels and improve health outcomes.

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The positive benefits of physical activity (PA) have long been substantiated and widely accepted by the public but unfortunately, most American, and Canadian adults still do not meet the US and Canada PA guidelines. With only 27% of high school students adhering to these guidelines, PA levels tend to decline during the late adolescent years into college. What intervention strategies can be incorporated into the campus culture that will not only increase PA levels in school, but increase the likelihood of adhering to higher levels of PA long after graduation into adulthood? A two-phase, mixed methodology focus group study was recently completed to explore preferences, associations, perceptions, and top motivators to PA. In phase one, facilitated group discussions were conducted with 234 participants from 13 diverse groups in Southern Ontario and 175 participants from 13 groups in South Carolina. Questions were asked regarding the participants' preferences to meet PA guidelines, views on lifestyle PA versus traditional PA, and top motivators to PA. Based on the feedback from phase one, a survey (phase two) was designed and administrated to participants from the same community groups in Guelph and South Carolina. Among the 18-34-year-old participants, the overwhelming majority of both male and female respondents from both Southern Ontario and South Carolina indicated a preference for lifestyle PA, agree that exercise is a stress reliever, feel "happy and feel like I've accomplished something afterwards" but see exercise as planned, structured, regimented, routine, repetitive. "Feeling good and happier afterwards, better health, losing and maintaining my weight, appearance, and seeing the rewards physically were the top PA motivators. Specific intervention strategies are provided to improve PA levels in college emphasizing the need to focus on lifestyle PA opportunities for college students to embrace and experience both in college, and for the rest of their lives.