Obesity and inactivity are increasingly prevalent in our society and will soon surpass tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death and disease (CDC, 2006). Individuals interested in a community-based physical activity program completed questionnaires on body perceptions and stages of change dealing with healthful eating and physical activity. Response differences among normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals were examined using Chi Square and logistic regression. The 727 respondents (80% female) were ages 21 to 92. Approximately 87% were white, 10% African-American, and 3% other. Only 22% were normal weight, 37% overweight and 41% obese. About 36% of individuals had been physically active for six or more months while only 23% had established healthful eating behaviors for that time period. Obese individuals (odds ratio (OR) = 2.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.44, 4.61) and overweight individuals (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.20, 3.69) were more likely than those who were normal weight to only occasionally engage in healthful eating. Obese individuals as compared to those of normal weight were more likely to have been only occasionally active (OR = 1.93; 95% CI =1.12, 3.30). The most apparent misperceptions of current weight status were by gender; 57% of overweight males perceived their weight as “about right” compared to 15% of overweight females. Conversely, 30% of normal weight females and 11% of normal weight males viewed themselves as overweight. Sixty percent of the normal weight females said that they would like to weigh less while 45% of overweight males said they would like to “stay about the same weight.” More females than males in all categories indicated they had tried to lose weight. Males in all weight categories were more likely than females in the same categories to have been active for more than six months. Normal weight males and females reported the highest percentage of being physically active for more than six months, while overweight males and normal weight females reported eating healthfully for more than six months. Obese and overweight males and females were more likely than individuals in the normal weight groups to report activity and healthful eating at levels of pre-contemplation, contemplation and occasional. Results suggest that wellness programs should focus on assisting individuals in developing awareness of normal weight and desirable activity levels, and helping individuals increase levels of physical activity and healthful eating. Keyword(s): adult physical activity/fitness, community-based programs, obesity issues