Effects of fitspiration on believability and intention to exercise.

Introduction: Although Fitspiration is purportedly intended to motivate people to be fit and healthy, a body of research has demonstrated negative effects of these media in men and women. Understanding mechanisms can help create more targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of Fitspiration. This research examined if selected implicitly or explicitly measured constructs moderated or mediated the effects of Fitspiration. The purposes were to examine the believability (finding the media truthful) of Fitspiration (study one; data from 139 women and 125 men aged 18-33 years were analyzed), the effects of Fitspiration on exercise intention (study two; data from 195 women and 173 men aged 18-30 years were analyzed), and whether these effects were moderated by exercise-related cognitive errors (negatively biased perception of exercise) or mediated by implicit (evaluative responses to stimuli) or explicit (reasoned evaluation of stimuli) attitudes. Methods: In two separate studies, self-identified men and women first completed a measure of exercise-related cognitive errors, then viewed gender-specific Fitspiration media, followed by measures of implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, believability, and demographics. In study two, participants were randomly assigned to Fitspiration or control media conditions and also completed measures of fitspiration-related cognitive errors and intention to exercise. In the first study, one model was tested for each gender sample. It was hypothesized that implicit and explicit attitudes would be positively related to believability, and that exercise-related cognitive errors would moderate these relationships. In study two, separate models were tested with exercise-related or Fitspiration-related cognitive errors as the moderators with each gender sample. It was hypothesized that implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, and believability would be positively related to intention, that the control media would lead to greater intention to exercise than the Fitspiration media, and that exercise-related cognitive errors and Fitspiration-related cognitive errors would moderate these relationships. Results: The majority of hypothesized relationships were not supported. A negative relationship between exercise-related cognitive errors and believability was found. Discussion: Overall, these studies identify and exclude factors that predict Fitspiration believability and the role that factors such as cognitive errors and attitudes may play in that.

Experiences of Size Inclusive Physical Activity Settings Among Women With Larger Bodies.

Purpose: Size inclusive physical activity settings may help mitigate the impact of physical activity-related weight stigma. In this interpretive description study, we aimed to understand how women with larger bodies experienced size inclusive physical activity settings. The study was informed by a settings-based approach to health promotion. Method: We interviewed nine women with larger bodies who participated in size inclusive physical activity and used an inductive approach to analyze the data. Findings: At the individual level, size inclusion was experienced as an enhancement of well-being, self-worth, and belonging. This was closely tied to the interpersonal level, whereby weight-neutral practices used by fitness instructors and lack of judgment from other exercisers contributed to experiences of size inclusion. At the organizational level, the organization's culture, marketing, programs, and physical spaces could enhance or limit inclusion and participation. However, weight stigma was prevalent in women's experiences outside the physical activity setting. Conclusion: We provide recommendations to improve size inclusion in physical activity settings.

Physical activity information seeking among emerging adults attending university.

Objective To assess preferred sources of information for seeking physical activity (PA), and how PA information seeking may contribute to participation in a campus PA program. Participants: Students attending a large, Western Canadian university between April 2015 and April 2018. Methods: Secondary analysis of an annual campus-wide survey. Results: Students sought PA information for general health. Females sought information about weight loss for appearances; males sought information for muscle gain for appearance. Internet and friends were primary sources of PA information. Regression analysis indicated females 2.49 (95% CI 1.98-3.13), domestic students 2.86, 95% CI (2.04-4.02), and first year students 24.88, 95% CI (18.12-34.17) were most likely to participate in a campus PA program. Only health reasons significantly contributed to participation 1.42, 95% CI (1.06-1.89). Conclusions: Emerging adults attending university may benefit from PA promotion that makes use of their preferred information sources.

Effects of physical-activity-related anti-weight stigma materials on implicit and explicit evaluations.

OBJECTIVE: Although there exist videos and images created by Obesity Canada and similar organizations (e.g., the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity), it is not known if the materials have the desired effect of reducing stigma against people with obesity and might have the opposite effect of increasing stigma. Therefore, two studies used implicit and explicit evaluations to examine the effectiveness of images and videos intended to reduce weight stigma. METHODS: Study 1 participants (N = 284; M age = 31.47 years [SD = 11.26]; 177 self-identified as women; 83 self-identified as living with obesity) completed two implicit measures (one with images of people living with obesity and the other with control images) followed by a weight stigma questionnaire. Study 2 participants (N = 308; M age = 31.54 years [SD = 11.35]; 153 self-identified as women; 59 self-identified as living with obesity) were randomly assigned to view an obesity and exercise video and images of persons with obesity, control video and images of persons with obesity, obesity and exercise video and control images, or control video and control images, followed by the implicit measures and explicit evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: Implicit evaluations of the control images were more positive than the images of persons with obesity. Participants with no history of obesity who saw the control video and control images had lower weight stigma compared to participants in the other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Materials created to reduce weight stigma might not be effective among people with no history of obesity themselves or via a family member or friend. Intervention and health promotion researchers may wish to investigate effects of the images in combination with other messages because simply using the nonstigmatizing images is likely not enough.

Examining the Relationship Between Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors, Exercise Schema, and Implicit Associations.

To better understand exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) from a dual processing perspective, the purpose of this study was to examine their relationship to two automatic exercise processes. It was hypothesized that ECEs would account for more variance than automatic processes in predicting intentions, that ECEs would interact with automatic processes to predict intentions, and that exercise schema would distinguish between different levels of ECEs. Adults (N = 136, Mage = 29 years, 42.6% women) completed a cross-sectional study and responded to three survey measures (ECEs, exercise self-schema, and exercise intentions) and two computerized implicit tasks (the approach/avoid task and single-category Implicit Association Test). ECEs were not correlated with the two implicit measures; however, ECEs moderated the relationship between approach tendency toward exercise stimuli and exercise intentions. Exercise self-schema were differentiated by ECE level. This study expands our knowledge of ECEs by examining their relationship to different automatic and reflective processes.

Examining differences in parents' perceptions of children's physical activity versus screen time guidelines and behaviours.

AIM: Most Canadian and Australian children do not meet Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) or Screen Time Guidelines (STG). Regarding the social issue advertising believability model (SIABM), parental support for these behaviours may depend upon how believable parents find guideline messages. The aim of the study was to examine differences in parents' SIABM variables and perceived behavioural control for PAG and STG messages. METHODS: Data were collected online; 499 Canadian parents with at least one child aged 5-11 years (75.6% mothers) participated. Differences in model variables were analysed using analyses of variance. RESULTS: Parents demonstrated greater issue involvement, attitudes towards the issue, parental support attitudes and perceived behavioural control for the PAG compared to the STG (d > 0.10). Mothers believed the messages more and had more favourable attitudes towards the issues as compared to fathers (d > 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' evaluations of PAG messages and corresponding supportive behaviours were generally more positive than STG. Future messages should emphasise supportive behaviours for screen time reduction that are feasible and enjoyable for children.

The Believability of Exercise Blogs Among Young Adults.

It is unknown how lifelong digital media users such as young adult women perceive exercise information found online. A total of 141 women aged 18-30 years and residing in Canada were randomized to read either a factually incorrect or a factually correct blog article. Participants completed Go/No-Go tasks to measure automatically activated believability and evaluations and questionnaires to explicitly measure believability, affective evaluations, and intentions to exercise. Participants did not show evidence of automatically activated believability of the content found in either blog article. However, participants reading the factually correct article reported significantly greater explicit disbelief than those reading the factually incorrect article, though this did not predict intentions. Being factually correct may not be an important component of message believability. Exercise professionals need to remain aware of the content of popular online sources of information in an effort to curb misinformation.

Leveraging Professional Sports Teams to Encourage Healthy Behavior: A Review of 4 Years of Calgary Flames Health Training Camp Events.

Professional sporting teams may be well-positioned to act as promoters of health behaviors given their fixture within a community, and association with physical activity, nutrition, and other healthy behaviors. Over 4 years, the Calgary Flames Sport and Entertainment Corporation in conjunction with local health promotion professionals, delivered a health promotion event to the public, The Calgary Flames Health Training Camp (FHTC) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The purpose of these annual events has been to inspire and encourage healthy behavior uptake and adherence. A description of the FHTC over each of 4 years (2015-2018), lessons learned, and some evaluative work done alongside the event on 2 of the 4 years. In 2017, self-report surveys were administered to event attendees to assess current health status including physical activity, socio-cognitive variables, health information preference, and intention to make healthful behavior change based on event attendance. Biometric data was collected including blood pressure, height, weight, and resting heart rate. Evaluations of the four consecutive events showed that the Calgary Flames Sport and Entertainment Corporation has an ability to attract substantial numbers of the general public to attend FHTC events. Self-report measures from 2017 suggest that already-active populations may be most interested in attending however, the events do appear to inspire attendees to consider behavioral changes for health. The events helped to identify individuals with health risks requiring medical attention but has not yet resulted in known behavior changes. Positive community health impacts may arise from collaboration between health promoters and professional sporting organizations.

Coping Versus Mastery Modeling Intervention to Enhance Self-efficacy for Exercise in Patients with COPD.

The literature suggests self-efficacy is a determinant of physical activity and management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to (1) test the effects of two vicarious experience interventions, coping versus mastery modeling, on self-efficacy in COPD patients performing a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and (2) determine the type of self-efficacy most strongly related to physical activity in COPD patients. After a baseline assessment of self-efficacy (task, coping for exercise, coping for breathing, scheduling, and walking) and potential moderators, 120 COPD patients watched a mastery model or coping model CPET video, or received usual care verbal instructions. Then, self-efficacy was assessed, followed by a CPET, and another assessment of self-efficacy. Fitbits tracked participants' step count the week following contact. Repeated measures MANOVAs assessed the intervention effects and multiple regressions assessed the contribution of self-efficacy subtypes to step count. All self-efficacy subtypes improved in the mastery and coping conditions, although greater improvement of self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers was observed in the coping condition. Self-efficacy did not improve in the control condition and no moderators were identified. Self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers was the self-efficacy subtype most strongly related to step count. This research suggests modeling is a useful intervention technique to enhance self-efficacy in COPD patients, although coping models may be more beneficial than mastery models for enhancing capability beliefs during complex tasks. Future interventions in COPD patients should target self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers.

Motivated, Fit, and Strong-Using Counter-Stereotypical Images to Reduce Weight Stigma Internalisation in Women with Obesity.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to use implicit retraining to change automatic associations between body size and physical activity (PA) in women with obesity to reduce weight bias internalisation (WBI). METHODS: A Solomon-square experimental design was used to determine the effect of a four-week online implicit retraining intervention on WBI (primary measure) and PA attitudes, self-efficacy, and self-reported behaviour (secondary measures). The intervention was a visual probe task pairing counter-stereotypical images of active individuals with obesity with positive PA-related words. In qualitative telephone interviews, a sub-sample of participants provided feedback and recommendations for using counter-stereotypical images in PA promotion. RESULTS: Women completed the intervention (n = 48) or a control task (n = 55). Results of a RM-ANOVA showed no interaction or main effect of group on WBI. A main effect of time demonstrated that both groups had reduced WBI between pre-test and post-test, through to one-week follow-up. There were no differences between groups or over time for PA attitudes, self-efficacy, or behaviour. Women who completed interviews (n = 16) discussed several benefits and drawbacks of using counter-stereotypical images. CONCLUSION: Implicit retraining did not reduce WBI but qualitative findings support the use of counter-stereotypical PA images.

Automatic associations of breast cancer and heart disease with fruit and vegetables and physical activity.

OBJECTIVES: This exploratory research examined if breast cancer or heart disease is automatically associated with physical activity compared to fruit and vegetable stimuli; if reading messages about reducing risk of breast cancer or heart disease through physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption would affect automatic associations; and if automatic associations were related to intentions to be physically active or consume fruit and vegetables. METHODS: Participants were 80 women who completed pretest measures of automatic associations, then read a breast cancer, heart disease, or control message, followed by posttest measures. RESULTS: There was a significant association of breast cancer-related words with fruit and vegetables compared to physical activity. Heart disease was also more strongly associated with fruit and vegetables than physical activity at pretest but not at posttest. There were no other significant findings. CONCLUSION: This research highlights that fruit and vegetables rather than physical activity are more strongly associated with perceptions of breast cancer and heart disease. Automatic associations are an attitudinal construct, and the strength of association between fruit and vegetables, rather than physical activity, indicates how messages may be processed.

Intentions of Canadian health professionals towards recommending exercise for people living with ALS.

BACKGROUND: To provide a nationwide overview of the attitudes, social pressure, perceived ability and intentions of health professionals toward exercise prescription for people living with ALS (pALS). METHODS: An online survey of physician and non-physician health professionals (HPs) working in academic ALS clinics across Canada. RESULTS: The response rate was 48% (84/176) with 30% of respondents identifying as physicians, 63% as other HPs and the remainder as administrative or research personnel. Respondents were sharply divided in their intentions to provide exercise counsel: 24% unlikely and 45% likely. Respondents with low intentions were HPs that considered this activity outside their scope of practice. Measures of intention and attitude were more positive for flexibility compared to strength and aerobic exercise. Perceptions of social pressure and ability to provide exercise counsel were significantly correlated with intention across the three exercise modes in all respondents. Qualitative themes identified as barriers to exercise prescription were lack of confidence or competence (31% physicians, 32% HP), patient tolerance (30% HP), lack of evidence (22% physicians) and lack of infrastructure (22% physicians). CONCLUSIONS: While "lack of evidence" for the benefit of exercise was a deterrent for physicians, the larger issue for all respondents was building competence and confidence in exercise prescription for pALS.

Political Orientation and Public Attributions for the Causes and Solutions of Physical Inactivity in Canada: Implications for Policy Support.

Objectives: To examine how public attributions for the causes and solutions of physical inactivity and individuals' self-identified political orientation are associated with support for different policy actions in addressing physical inactivity. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted with a sample of 2,044 Canadian adults. Two sets of 2 X 3 analyses of variance and post-hoc analyses were conducted to assess (1) the mean differences by the causes of the issue of physical inactivity (individual, or both internal and external/external) and political orientation (liberal, centrist, and conservative), and (2) responsibility for solutions (private matter, or both private and public health matter, and /public health matter) and political orientation on support for least, moderate, and most intrusive policy actions. Results: No interaction effects existed between causal attribution and political orientation on policy support, but a main effect of causal attributions for physical inactivity and political orientation was significant. Those who held internal attributions for the cause of physical inactivity showed less support for policies compared to those who held external causal attributions or both internal and external causal attributions. Conservative individuals reported the least support for all policy actions in comparison to liberal or centrist orientations. There were interaction effects between responsibility for solutions and political orientation on policy support. Conservative individuals who perceived the responsibility for solving physical inactivity as a private matter had less support for all three policy actions. Conclusions: Public acceptance of policy actions addressing physical inactivity varies by the attributions the public have regarding causes and responsibility for solving the problem, and by political orientation. Advocacy and messaging for policy implementation in the physical activity arena needs to be communicated in ways that encourage reflective and informed deliberation that is representative of the Canadian population.

Reciprocal relationships between self-efficacy, outcome satisfaction, and attendance at an exercise programme.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to (i) investigate directional influences of self-efficacy, outcome satisfaction, and attendance during an exercise programme and (ii) examine the predictive capabilities of self-efficacy and outcome satisfaction on participant dropout. METHODS: Adults aged 35-65 years were recruited to a 12-month exercise programme. Self-efficacy was collected at baseline, three, six, nine, and 12 months, and outcome satisfaction at the same time-points except baseline. Cross-lagged panel analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the primary and secondary objectives, respectively. RESULTS: Coping and scheduling self-efficacy had stronger reciprocal relationships with outcome satisfaction than task self-efficacy, although the strength of these relationships varied across time. Initially, task self-efficacy predicted programme attendance. Midway through the programme, outcome satisfaction predicted attendance, and by the end of the programme, coping self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of attendance. Self-efficacy and outcome satisfaction did not predict programme dropout. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the reciprocal relationship between outcome satisfaction and scheduling and coping self-efficacy and highlight the importance of sequentially targeting different beliefs and skills to facilitate successful initiation and maintenance of exercise behaviour. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Self-efficacy and outcome satisfaction are related to exercise behaviour. The relationship between self-efficacy and outcome satisfaction are typically considered unidirectional. The longitudinal relationships among self-efficacy, outcome satisfaction, and physical activity participation are unclear. What does this study add? Outcome satisfaction had reciprocal relationships with both coping and scheduling self-efficacy for exercise. The importance of self-efficacy and outcome satisfaction to exercise attendance changes over time. Task self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of initial programme attendance. Midway through the programme, outcome satisfaction and task self-efficacy were the strongest predictors of attendance, and by the end of the programme, coping self-efficacy was the strongest predictor.

Assessing the social climate of physical (in)activity in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing physical activity participation within a population is to reconstruct the "social climate". This can be accomplished through 1) changing norms and beliefs, 2) providing direct support for modifying environments, and 3) implementing policies to encourage physical activity. Nevertheless, surveillance efforts have paid limited attention to empirical assessment of social climate. This study responds to this gap by assessing the social climate of physical activity in Canada. METHODS: A representative sample of Canadian adults (n = 2519, male/female = 50.3%/49.7%, Mage = 49.1 ± 16.3 years) completed an online survey asking them to assess social climate dimensions including social norms of physical (in)activity, perceptions of who causes physical inactivity and who is responsible for solving physical inactivity, and support for physical activity-related policy. Descriptive statistics (frequencies) were calculated. Multinomial logistic regressions were constructed to identify whether demographic variables and physical activity participation associated with social climate dimensions. RESULTS: Physical inactivity was considered a serious public health concern by 55% of the respondents; similar to unhealthy diets (58%) and tobacco use (57%). Thirty-nine percent of the respondents reported that they often see other people exercising. Twenty-eight percent of the sample believed that society disapproves of physical inactivity. The majority of respondents (63%) viewed the cause of physical inactivity as both an individual responsibility and other factors beyond an individuals' control. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported physical inactivity as being both a private matter and a public health matter. Strong support existed for environmental-, individual-, and economic-level policies but much less for legislative approaches. The social climate indicators were associated with respondents' level of physical activity participation and demographic variables in expected directions. CONCLUSION: This study is the first known attempt to assess social climate at a national level, addressing an important gap in knowledge related to advocating for, and implementing population-level physical activity interventions. Future tracking will be needed to identify any temporal (in)stability of these constructs over time and to explore the relationship between physical activity participation and indicators of the national social climate of physical activity.

Can The Moblees™ Move Canadian Children? Investigating the Impact of a Television Program on Children's Physical Activity.

Background: The effects of messaging about physical activity and sedentary behavior purposefully integrated into children's TV programming on children's behavior is unknown. The Moblees is a Canadian childrens' show that explicitly promotes physical activity. Two studies were conducted to (1) examine whether children were more physically active when watching a Moblees episode, and (2) explore parental perceptions of the show. Methods: Study 1 was an experimental study with 21 families randomized to watch an episode of The Moblees vs. a control condition. Movement was assessed through accelerometry and observation. A Chi-square test was used to compare the direct observation proportions of children sitting between intervention and control conditions. Independent t-tests were performed to examine the differences in total vector magnitude counts between the experimental and control groups. Study 2 was an online cross-sectional study with 104 parent/child dyads that included viewing an episode of The Moblees. To identify correlates and predictors of parent-reported child PA during viewing The Moblees compared to other TV programs, Pearson's correlations and a linear regression were calculated, respectively. Results: In study 1 there was a significant association between condition and whether or not children remained sitting χ2 = 55.96, p < 0.001. There was a significant difference in counts between the two conditions, t(13, 61) = 2.29, p < 0.05. Children randomized to the experimental group (i.e., Moblees) moved more compared to control. In study 2 the majority (76%) of parents reported that their child engaged in some physical activity during viewing. Parent encouragement during viewing was the strongest predictor of child physical activity while viewing (ß = 0.30, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Television content that includes messaging about physical activity and sedentary behavior, and positive portrayals of physical activity may influence the physical activity of young children. Although the benefits of such modest movement are not clear without further evidence of accumulation over time and/or transfer to other settings, television programming might provide a far reaching medium for knowledge translation.

The Relationship of Explicit-Implicit Evaluative Discrepancy to Exercise Dropout in Middle-Aged Adults.

Discrepancies between automatically activated associations (i.e., implicit evaluations) and explicit evaluations of motives (measured with a questionnaire) could lead to greater information processing to resolve discrepancies or self-regulatory failures that may affect behavior. This research examined the relationship of health and appearance exercise-related explicit-implicit evaluative discrepancies, the interaction between implicit and explicit evaluations, and the combined value of explicit and implicit evaluations (i.e., the summed scores) to dropout from a yearlong exercise program. Participants (N = 253) completed implicit health and appearance measures and explicit health and appearance motives at baseline, prior to starting the exercise program. The sum of implicit and explicit appearance measures was positively related to weeks in the program, and discrepancy between the implicit and explicit health measures was negatively related to length of time in the program. Implicit exercise evaluations and their relationships to oft-cited motives such as appearance and health may inform exercise dropout.

Examining the Relationship between Message Variables, Affective Reactions, and Parents' Instrumental Attitudes toward Their Child's Physical Activity: The "Mr. Lonely" Public Service Announcement.

This study examined the relationship between message variables and affective reactions with parents' attitudes after seeing a physical activity mass media public service announcement (PSA). It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between message variables (i.e., personal relevance, novelty of information, and feelings toward sponsoring organization) and parents' attitudes toward their child/children's physical activity after viewing the PSA. Furthermore, we explored whether discrete affective reactions were related to attitudes, beyond the effect of message variables. A secondary data analysis was conducted with parental responses to an online campaign evaluation survey (n = 267). Hierarchical regression analyses showed an overall positive relationship between all three message variables and attitudes. Furthermore, two discrete affective reactions were positively related to attitudes. Parents who endorsed feeling motivated or guilty after viewing the advertisement had more positive attitudes toward their children's physical activity levels. This study represents an ecologically valid assessment of how message variables and affective reactions are related to attitudes within the context of a physical activity mass media campaign. The results provide guidance for the effective design of mass media physical activity campaigns.

Examining implicit cognitions in the evaluation of a community-wide physical activity program.

The purpose of this study was to incorporate measures of attentional bias and implicit attitudes in the evaluation of a community-wide physical activity program, UWALK, by examining the relationships among proximal, intermediate, and distal outcomes of the program as outlined in the hierarchy of effects model. UWALK incorporated various communication and marketing strategies via mass media, on- and off-line platforms. Participants (N = 127) reported unprompted then prompted awareness of UWALK followed by measures of attentional bias and implicit attitudes, watched a 30-second UWALK video, then completed a thought listing task and questionnaires measuring instrumental and affective attitudes, leisure time physical activity, and demographics. Results showed that participants with unprompted awareness of UWALK demonstrated attentional bias toward UWALK images, positive implicit attitudes, and greater physical activity participation compared to unaware counterparts. Attentional bias, awareness, and implicit attitudes significantly predicted behavior, accounting for 15.2% of the variance. This study emphasizes the importance of including measures of automatic cognitions during evaluation can further inform the effects of a program. The results also showed that it is problematic to assume that visiting a website indicates a program will be remembered and related cognitions will be affected.

Investigating relationships between ancestry, lifestyle behaviors and perceptions of heart disease and breast cancer among Canadian women with British and with South Asian ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic minority groups including Asians in Canada have different knowledge and perceptions of heart disease and breast cancer compared with the ethnic majority group. AIM: Examine relationships between perceptions of heart disease and breast cancer, and lifestyle behaviors for Canadian women with British and with South Asian ancestry. METHODS: Women with South Asian ( n = 170) and with British ( n = 373) ancestry ( Mage = 33.01, SD = 12.86) reported leisure time physical activity, intended fruit and vegetable consumption, disease perceptions (ability to reduce risk, control over getting the diseases, and influence of family history), and demographic information. Mann-Whitney tests and multiple hierarchical linear regressions were used to examine the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and disease perceptions, with ancestry explored as a possible moderator. RESULTS: Participants with South Asian ancestry believed they had greater ability to reduce their risk and have control over getting breast cancer than participants with British ancestry. Family history influences on getting either disease was perceived as higher for women with British ancestry. Age was positively related to all three perceptions in both diseases. Intended fruit and vegetable consumption was positively related to perceptions of ability to reduce risk and control of both diseases, but was stronger for women with South Asian ancestry regarding perceptions of breast cancer. Leisure time physical activity was positively related to perceptions of control over getting heart disease for women with British ancestry. CONCLUSIONS: Women's disease perceptions can vary by ancestry and lifestyle behaviors. Accurate representation of diseases is essential in promoting effective preventative behaviors.