What outcome did the Sallis et al. 1999 study reveal regarding knowledge and behavior?

The study by Sallis et al. in 1999 focused on the relationship between knowledge and behavior in the context of physical activity. The findings indicated that while knowledge related to physical activity increased among participants, this increase did not translate into a corresponding improvement in behavior. This highlights a critical point in health promotion and public health initiatives: simply providing knowledge about the benefits of physical activity does not automatically lead to behavior change.

Such outcomes underscore the complexity of behavioral change, suggesting that additional factors need to be considered, such as motivation, environmental support, and personal circumstances. This evidence is important for designing effective interventions, as it emphasizes the need to combine knowledge dissemination with strategies that also address the behavioral and environmental barriers that individuals face in becoming more active.