This study examined the effect of exercise intensity on establishing exercise habits by comparing the difference in the retention rate of exercise habits when provided exercise intervention groups (exercise programs, exercise classrooms) with different exercise intensity. Participation (requirement) of exercise intervention were 20-64 years old women without exercise habits (30 minutes or more, once at least twice a week) for one year or more, outstanding sports history in the past, confident in physical strength and athletic ability, and special consideration to exercise by a doctor. Twenty-nine women participated, 17 participants were assigned to low- to moderate-intensity exercise intervention group, 12 participants were assigned to moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise intervention group. All groups participated in the same number of sessions (90minutes a session and twice a week) and the same periods (12 weeks). The main exercises were stretching and walking in low- to moderate-intensity exercise group, and walking and jogging in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise group. One year after the end of the exercise intervention, the survey showed that the retention rate of exercise habits in low- to moderate-intensity exercise group was 7 out of 12 (58.3%) and that in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise group was 2 out of 11 (18.2%). There was no significant difference in the retention rate of exercise habits between two groups (χ2 test, p=0.089). Self-efficacy for exercise did not increase significantly in either group (low- to moderate-intensity exercise group: baseline 8.8±3.0 → post 9.4±2.5 → survey 8.5±3.1 points, moderateto vigorous-intensity exercise group: 11.3±2.9 → 11.0±3.7 → 10.8±2.2 points. Interaction: p = 0.694, simple main effect of time: p=0.585, simple main effect of group: p=0.061). These results suggest that the effect of exercise intensity on establishing exercise habits and self-efficacy for exercise-related establishing exercise habits might be small.
