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 .
Health Opportunities with Physical Exercise (HOPE): social contextual interventions to reduce sedentary behavior in urban settings.
Physical activity interventions targeting social and physical environments of the urban poor hold promise in improving health outcomes in underserved communities . This study r and omly assigned overweight , sedentary , economically disadvantaged adults to one of three intervention conditions at The Hope and Healing Center , a large inner-city health facility providing numerous options for exercise . Within the tenets of Social Action Theory , the Health Opportunities with Physical Exercise ( HOPE ) trial will test the efficacy of two behavior change models , social support and patient-provider interaction , to increase physical activity . In addition to a st and ard care condition , in which patients have open access to Hope and Healing physical activity programming , patients were assigned to one of two behavior change interventions . Those assigned to patient-peer receive face-to-face , systematic and scheduled encouragement from study -trained ' peer ' interventionists at the facility . Patients assigned to patient-provider receive face-to-face , systematic and scheduled encouragement provided by study -trained ' provider ' interventionists also at the facility . The primary outcomes of change in exercise behavior will be documented by self-reported physical activity and confirmed by fitness testing at baseline , 6 , 12 and 24 months during the 1 year of active intervention and 1 year of relapse prevention follow-up . Intervention conditions will be compared on psychosocial mediators including motivational appraisal s , ratings of social support , rapport , problem solving and self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to increased physical activity . Novel aspects of this intervention include : ( 1 ) delivery of socially based physical activity interventions to an economically disadvantaged urban population , ( 2 ) reduction of environmental barriers to be physically active and ( 3 ) emphasis on social interactions influencing health habit change . Results of this study have the potential to identify mechanisms of behavior change that could be adopted by physical activity interventions aim ed at reducing sedentary behavior and health disparities in high-risk , underserved population
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 .