Free public exercise may be a good incentive to stay active

Convenience is a huge factor in starting and maintaining an exercise program. Most people, for example, choose gyms that are close to their home, school or office to avoid a major schlep. Add free exercises classes taught by fitness professionals in a public setting to the mix and it would be even better, and might just compel people to be more active. It seems to be working for residents of Recife, the fifth largest city in Brazil, where city officials have set up free calesthenic and dance classes in 21 public places. The Academia da Cidade program has been going on since 2002, enrolling more than 10,000 residents a year. Researchers who interviewed some of the locals found that participating in the program had a positive influence on their levels of exercise. Phone surveys were conducted among 2,046 residents of Recife, who were asked about their leisure-time physical activity and whether they walked or biked to places. Researchers found that those who had taken part in the program were ... (link)