The heterogeneity in reported effects was reduced in higher quality studies , when physical activity was self-directed with some professional guidance and when there was on-going professional support .
Our review suggests that physical activity interventions have a moderate effect on self reported physical activity and cardio-respiratory fitness , but not on achieving a predetermined level of physical activity .
Due to the clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the studies , only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of individual components of the interventions .
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effectiveness of strategies to enable people to achieve an increase in their physical activity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions for promoting physical activity in adults aged 16 years and older , not living in an institution .
Telephone versus mail interventions for maintenance of physical activity in older adults.
Although telephone and mail are often used to promote physical activity adoption , their ability to produce long-term maintenance is unclear . In this study , 140 men and women aged 50 - 65 years received 1 year of telephone counseling  to adopt higher ( i.e. , more vigorous ) versus lower intensity ( i.e. , moderate ) exercise . After 1 year , participants were rer and omized to a 2nd year of contact via ( a ) telephone and mail or ( b ) predominantly mail . Participants who were prescribed higher intensity exercise and received predominantly mail had better exercise adherence during the maintenance year than those who received telephone and mail . Both strategies were similarly effective in promoting maintenance in the lower intensity condition . Results suggest that after successful adoption of physical activity with the help of telephone counseling , less intensive interventions are successful for physical activity maintenance in older adults
The heterogeneity in reported effects was reduced in higher quality studies , when physical activity was self-directed with some professional guidance and when there was on-going professional support .
Our review suggests that physical activity interventions have a moderate effect on self reported physical activity and cardio-respiratory fitness , but not on achieving a predetermined level of physical activity .
Due to the clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the studies , only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of individual components of the interventions .
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effectiveness of strategies to enable people to achieve an increase in their physical activity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions for promoting physical activity in adults aged 16 years and older , not living in an institution .