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 .
“Walk in to Work Out”: a randomised controlled trial of a self help intervention to promote active commuting
Study objective : To determine if a self help intervention , delivered via written interactive material s ( the “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack ) , could increase  active commuting behaviour ( walking and cycling ) . Design : R and omised controlled trial . The intervention group received the “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack , which contained written interactive material s based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour change , local information about distances and routes , and safety information . The control group received the pack six months later . Focus groups were also conducted after six months . Setting : Three workplaces in the city of Glasgow , Scotl and , UK . Participants : 295 employees who had been identified as thinking about , or doing some irregular , walking or cycling to work . Main results : The intervention group was almost twice as likely to increase walking to work as the control group at six months ( odds ratio of 1.93 , 95 % confidence intervals 1.06 to 3.52 ) . The intervention was not successful at increasing cycling . There were no distance travelled to work , gender , or age influences on the results . Twenty five per cent ( 95 % confidence intervals 17 % to 32 % ) of the intervention group , who received the pack at baseline , were regularly actively commuting at the 12 month follow up . Conclusion : The “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack was successful in increasing walking but not cycling . The environment for cycling must be improved before cycling will become a popular option
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 .