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 .
Project Joy: Faith Based Cardiovascular Health Promotion for African American Women
Objective . The authors tested the impact on cardiovascular risk profiles of African American women ages 40 years and older after one year of participation in one of three church-based nutrition and physical activity strategies : a st and ard behavioral group intervention , the st and ard intervention supplemented with spiritual strategies , or self-help strategies . Methods . Women were screened at baseline and after one year of participation . The authors analyzed intention-to-treat within group and between groups using a generalized estimating equations adjustment for intra-church clustering . Because spiritual strategies were added to the st and ard intervention by participants themselves , the results from both active groups were similar and , thus , combined for comparisons with the self-help group . Results . A total of 529 women from 16 churches enrolled . Intervention participants exhibited significant improvements in body weight ( −1.1 lbs ) , waist circumference ( −0.66 inches ) , systolic blood pressure ( −1.6 mmHg ) , dietary energy ( −117 kcal ) , dietary total fat ( −8 g ) , and sodium intake ( −145 mg ) . The self-help group did not . In the active intervention group , women in the top decile for weight loss at one year had even larger , clinical ly meaningful changes in risk outcomes ( −19.8 lbs ) . Conclusions . Intervention participants achieved clinical ly important improvements in cardiovascular disease risk profiles one year after program initiation , which did not occur in the self-help group . Church-based interventions can significantly benefit the cardiovascular health of African American women
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 .