Barriers to Exercise among Non-Exercising Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Exercise is a crucial strategy for diabetes management. However, the majority of patients with Type 2 diabetes seem reluctant to do physical activity. It increases the need of investigating the factors that are responsible for their non-exercising routine. This study aims to recognize the psychological and social barriers that prevent patients with diabetes mellitus to do exercise. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 275 patients with type 2 diabetes attending family medicine outpatient clinics for the last six months. The questionnaire has been designed to collect data regarding psychological and social barriers to exercise. A comparison of social and psychological barriers with general characteristics was performed. The findings of the study reveal that all the general characteristics were significantly associated with psychological and social barriers. The patients reported that lack of interest, no willpower, a feeling of depression, unaffordability, and time barriers were the most frequent barriers among social and psychological barriers to exercise.