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 .
Promotion of health and physical activity improves the mental health of elderly immigrants: results of a group randomised controlled trial among Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands aged 45 and over
Objectives : Older immigrants from non-industrialised countries are a growing group , they have comparatively many health problems and are often hard to reach through health promotion and other preventive services . The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a short health education and physical exercise programme on the health and the physical activity of Turkish first generation elderly immigrants . Design : R and omised controlled trial . Setting : Welfare services in six Dutch cities . Participants : 126 people born in Turkey and aged 45 years and over , of whom 92 completed the trial . Intervention : Eight , two hour sessions consisting of health education and exercises . Topics in health education focused on means to maintain a good health . Education was adapted to the culture and knowledge of older Turks and offered by a Turkish peer educator , in Turkish . Main outcome measures : Physical and mental wellbeing , and mental health based on the SF-12/36 ; knowledge on health and disease ; physical activity . Results : Participants were highly disadvantaged ; 52 % had not completed primary school and 49 % had considerable problems in speaking Dutch . Participants in the intervention group showed an improvement in mental health ( effect size : 0.38 SD ( 95 % confidence intervals 0.03 to 0.73 ) , p=0.03 ) ; the oldest subgroup also in mental wellbeing ( effect size 0.75 SD ( 0.22 to 1.28 ) , p=0.01 ) . No improvements were seen in physical wellbeing and activity , nor in knowledge . Conclusions : Health education and physical exercise improve the mental state of deprived immigrants . Painstaking cultural adaptations to contents and method of delivery are essential to reach this effect
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 .