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 .
Promoting physical activity in low-income African-American communities: the PARR project.
Data suggest that low-income and minority individuals are less physically active than the general population . We conducted a constituency-based physical activity promotion program , the Physical Activity for Risk Reduction ( PARR ) project , from 1988 to 1991 , with residents of rental communities administered by the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District in Birmingham , Alabama . Data collected through focus groups and by survey of r and omly selected residents ' exercise practice s , beliefs , barriers to and facilitators of physical activity were used to develop specific intervention programs that were implemented and evaluated in six intervention and two control communities through surveys and process evaluations . Trained community residents conducted data collection and interventions . Ninety-nine percent of respondents in the baseline survey were African Americans . Thirty-one percent reported no participation in any of 13 physical activities in the previous year . Significant differences ( P < .05 ) in average attendance by community at group exercise sessions indicated substantial variability in effectiveness of the intervention , due at least in part to factors related to both the communities and the leaders . This variability appeared to explain patterns of change in preintervention and postintervention physical activity scores in intervention communities . Data and experiences from PARR will be applicable to the delivery of similar types of health-related programs in undeserved communities
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 .