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 .
Ready to be Physically Active? The Effects of a Course Preparing Low-Income Multiethnic Women to be more Physically Active
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a preintervention physical activity preparatory course on physical activity , and social , cognitive , and transtheoretical constructs . The sample included 82 low-income , multiethnic women ( 75 % Latina ) who completed an 8-week course design ed to prepare them to become more active prior to r and omization into a 10-month physical activity intervention .  Participants completed precourse and postcourse measures . Paired-comparison t tests showed increases in knowledge , perceived social support for exercise , minutes of walking per week , and total cognitive and behavioral processes following the preparatory course . Perceived barriers and self-efficacy for exercise did not change from precourse to postcourse . Preintervention preparatory courses may be an effective way to increase social and cognitive constructs associated with physical activity behavior , potentially yielding a greater effect from subsequent interventions
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 .