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 .
Mediators of physical activity behavior change among women with young children.
BACKGROUND Women with children are less likely to engage in  adequate physical activity ( PA )  than women without children . This study aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of two strategies for promoting increased  PA  among mothers of preschool-aged children , and to explore the mediators of any result ing change in PA behavior . DESIGN Controlled intervention trial incorporating repeated data collection from 554 women , r and omized to one of three experimental conditions . Intervention Group 1 served as a control , while women in Groups 2 and 3 were given print information about overcoming PA barriers . Women in Group 3 were also invited to discuss the development of local strategies for the promotion of PA among mothers of young children . The primary strategies included increasing partner support , social advocacy , and capacity building , and were implemented through collaboration among participants , research ers , and community organizations . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Adequate physical activity ( PA ) , self-efficacy ( SE ) and partner support ( PS ) . RESULTS Following the intervention , women in Group 3 were significantly more likely to meet guidelines for PA than controls ( odds ratio [OR]=1.71 , confidence interval [CI]=1.05 - 2.77 ) ] after controlling for age and PA at baseline . After controlling for baseline PA , residualized change in SE ( OR=1.86 , CI=1.17 - 2.94 ) and PS ( OR=2.29 , CI=1.46 - 3.58 ) significantly predicted meeting guidelines . After controlling for residual change in PS and SE , the significant intervention effect was attenuated ( Group 3 OR=1.40 , CI=0.76 - 2.36 ) , indicating that partner support and self-efficacy may be mediators of physical activity behavior change . CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that community participation approaches that facilitate increased self-efficacy and partner support can be effective in increasing PA  among mothers of young children
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 .