Correlation between physical activities, consumption of fruits and vegetables and using social cognitive theory constructs in obese or overweight women referring to health centers in Gorgan

Obesity is an important health problem that is dramatically increasing in developed and developing countries and is also responsible for the most leading health problems in the vast majority of countries. Then, the current survey was aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and fruit and vegetables consumption among overweight and obese women referring to health centers of Gorgan city. Methods A cross-sectional study was accomplished among 420 overweight or obese women referring to the health centers of Gorgan city. A multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted. A researcher made questionnaire was made based on social cognitive theory constructs including demographic characteristics, HPLPII physical fitness standard questionnaire and fruit and vegetables consumption. All data were analyzed using central and distribution indices and analytical information through correlation and multivariate linear regression tests. Results The mean score of fruit and vegetable consumption were accordingly 2.04 ± 0.78 and 1.67 ± 0.83 portion per day; while, the average score of physical activity was 23.31 minutes with standard deviation of 16.6. There were a significant relationship between the self-efficacy, availability, expectation, environment and physical activity (p=0.001) and between the availability, expectation and fruit and vegetable consumption (p= 0.001). Conclusion The current findings suggest that structures of social cognitive theory including expectations, availability and self-efficacy play an important role in predicting physical activity and fruit and vegetables consumption.