Behaviour Change for Physical Activity

Helping an inactive person become more active is usually a behaviour change task rather than an information task, and a short, well-structured conversation can do more than telling someone to exercise.

Most people already know activity is good for them, so the clinician supports motivation, confidence and a workable plan. This page covers the main models of how people change, the principles of motivational interviewing, and brief interventions, from a very brief intervention to the 5 A's, that fit the time a clinician has. The theme throughout is a collaborative, person-centred approach that builds the person's own reasons to change.