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 .
Advising people to take more exercise is ineffective: a randomized controlled trial of physical activity promotion in primary care.
BACKGROUND Over the last 10 years ' exercise referral schemes ' have been popular even though the evidence for effectiveness of any one-to-one intervention in primary care is deficient . We report the results of a primary care based one-to-one intervention that compared the effect of two communication styles with a no-intervention control group on self-reported physical activity at 12 months . METHODS In all , 1658 middle-aged men and women were r and omly assigned to 30 minutes of brief negotiation or direct advice in primary care or a no-intervention control group . The main outcome was self-reported physical activity at 12 months . Secondary outcome measures included change in blood pressure and body mass index . RESULTS Intention-to-treat analysis revealed no significant differences in physical activity between groups . Brief negotiation group participants who completed the study increased their physical activity significantly more than controls . There was no change in body mass index in any group . The brief negotiation group produced a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure than direct advice . CONCLUSION If patients whose health may benefit from increased physical activity seek advice in primary care , 20 - 30 minutes of brief negotiation to increase physical activity is probably more effective than similar attempts to persuade or coerce . However , blanket physical activity promotion in primary care is not effective . The most effective way of increasing physical activity in primary care has yet to be determined
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 .