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 .
An intervention to promote walking in sedentary women in the community.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate a telephone counseling intervention that was design ed to help sedentary women begin and maintain a walking program . METHODS Females ( N = 197 ) were r and omly assigned to either an intervention , attention control , or no-attention control group . Assessment s were made at baseline and 6 months . RESULTS Women in the intervention group reported more time walked each day than did control women ( P < .05 ) . The intervention worked equally for African American and European American women as well as for different income groups . CONCLUSION Overall , a counseling intervention via telephone appears to be a good way to help women begin a walking program
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 .