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 .
Reducing cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women through a lifestyle change intervention.
BACKGROUND The impact of a 6-month lifestyle change intervention on cardiovascular risk factors in obese , sedentary , postmenopausal women was examined . A secondary aim of this investigation was to determine whether the addition of self-control skills training to an empirically supported lifestyle change intervention would result in greater cardiovascular risk reduction . METHODS Forty-four women were r and omly assigned to receive either a lifestyle change or a lifestyle change with self-control skills intervention . Pretreatment and posttreatment weight loss , body composition , physical activity , cardiorespiratory fitness , diet , blood pressure ( BP ) , blood lipids , and psychosocial functioning were assessed . Also , at 1-year posttreatment , weight loss , body composition , self-reported physical activity , and psychosocial functioning were assessed . RESULTS The women significantly increased their physical activity ( + 39.6 % ) and cardiorespiratory fitness ( + 13.5 % ) and reduced their body weight ( -6.5 % ) , fat mass ( -7.4 % ) , body fat ( -2.4 % ) , BP ( SBP -6.2 % , DBP -9.2 % ) , total cholesterol ( -7.4 % ) , triglycerides ( -16.5 % ) , and low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol ( 9.1 % ) and improved their diet ( p < 0.05 ) . At the 1-year follow-up , women had regained approximately 63 % of their posttreatment weight loss ( p < 0.05 ) , but had maintained their previous increases in physical activity . Additionally , there were no significant changes in fat free mass , body fat , anxiety , or depression between the end of treatment and 1-year posttreatment . The addition of self-control skills training did not significantly improve cardiovascular risk reduction . CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle change interventions may be an effective means for reducing cardiovascular risk in obese , sedentary , postmenopausal women . However , greater attention should be devoted to the maintenance of these positive lifestyle changes
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 .