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 .
Randomized trial of physical exercise alone or combined with bright light on mood and health-related quality of life.
BACKGROUND So-called atypical depressive symptoms ( carbohydrate craving , prolonged sleep , weight gain , increased appetite ) frequently emerge in association with low illumination to which people are ordinarily exposed indoors , or even outdoors at extreme latitudes in wintertime . Our objective was to analyse the effect of physical exercise alone or combined with bright light on mood and the health-related quality of life during winter . METHODS We carried out a r and omized controlled trial on 120 indoor employees in southern Finl and between November and January . The subjects were allocated to supervised fitness training under bright ( 2500 - 4000 lx ) or ordinary ( 400 - 600 lx ) light conditions in a gym 2 - 3 times weekly for 8 weeks , or supervised relaxation training once a week over the same period as active placebo . We collected question naire data on the changes in mood and health-related quality of life after 4 and 8 weeks of training , and after 4 months follow-up . RESULTS Fitness training in bright light result ed in greater relief from atypical depressive symptoms and more vitality than in ordinary room light . Compared with relaxation alone , the former regime improved general mental health and social functioning in addition to the improvement in depressive symptoms and vitality , whereas the latter only increased vitality . CONCLUSIONS Supervised physical exercise combined with exposure to bright light appears to be an effective intervention for improving mood and certain aspects of the health-related quality of life in wintertime . This effect appears unrelated to the history of season-dependent symptoms , being noticeable among healthy individuals
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 .