The level of physical activity and motivation of urban population for physical exercises and sports

The Concept for Long-Term Socio-Economic Development of the Russian Federation up to 2020 attach significance of physical activity and sport in the formation of the country’s human potential, demographic setting stabilization, and reduction of working age population mortality. Mass sports exercises and their popularization are an important factor for public health promotion, and also the key to longevity, productive and active life. At the same time, besides basic health care physical activity and sports improve general culture, communication, develop active forms of leisure time, enhance emotional state, provide an alternative to bad habits, and solidate the urban community. However, die to various reasons not all population keep a healthy lifestyle. Especially this issue concerns population of cities. This article reveals the most important problems and analyses the public opinion on population’s attitude to physical culture and sports with the help of a survey carried out among Vologda citizens. The author summarizes positive moments in healthy lifestyle of Vologda citizens: the increase of number of people evaluating their health as “good” and “very good”; about half of the respondents do not have any chronic diseases. The article also shows that along with the positive dynamics there are problematic aspects, such as lack of habit to keep a healthy lifestyle, low percent of Vologda citizens engaged in physical activity and sports on a regular basis, low physical activity of citizens. Almost half of working population have sedentary jobs and do not exercise. The author reveals leading motivation factors for physical activity and sport: opportunity to improve health, wish to lose weight, and aim to look good. The author also emphasizes territorial differentiation of factors affecting the wish of Vologda citizens to take physical activities and sports. The article demonstrates that lack of information about possible positive effects in human body caused by physical exercises is a constraining factor in people’s physical activity increasing. The author presents the strongest motivators affecting the decision to do sports on a regular basis: ten-minutes exercises improving labor efficiency, physical exercise preventing heart diseases, congestive phenomena and stimulating immune system. On the basis of the research the author suggests main ways for increasing physical activity and motivation to take physical exercises and sports.