Skip to main content

An Investigation of Exercise and the Placebo Effect

Buy Article:

$39.00 + tax (Refund Policy)

Objective: To replicate previous research that concluded exercise affects health via a placebo effect: simply telling workers with physically active jobs that their "work is exercise" improves health. Method: A convenience sample of university building service workers (n=53) learned "their work is exercise" or about job safety. Results: Groups demonstrated similar outcomes at 4 and 8 weeks for weight, percent fat, waist circumference, and behavioral measures. Both groups increased self-perception as "regular exercisers"; blood pressure was reduced only in the intervention group. Conclusion: This research did not support the placebo effect. Although enticing, simply changing mind-set does not alter the relationship between exercise and health.

Keywords: EXERCISE; MIND-SET; PLACEBO; WORK

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: The University of Texas at Austin, Kinesiology and Health Education, Austin, TX, USA

Publication date: 01 May 2011

More about this publication?
  • The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.

    The Journal aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of personal attributes, personality characteristics, behavior patterns, social structure, and processes on health maintenance, health restoration, and health improvement; to disseminate knowledge of holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to designing and implementing effective health programs; and to showcase health behavior analysis skills that have been proven to affect health improvement and recovery.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Submit a Paper
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • Review Board
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content