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 .
The effect of exercise and diet on mental health and quality of life in middle-aged individuals with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Mental health and quality of life were assessed before and after a one-year exercise and diet intervention among 219 healthy individuals , aged 41 - 50 years , with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease . The participants were r and omized to four groups : diet ( n = 55 ) , diet and exercise ( n = 67 ) , exercise ( n = 54 ) and no active intervention ( n = 43 ) . Quality of life was measured with one eight-item scale and two one-item scales . Mental health was measured by the General Health Question naire ( 30-item version ) . Depression , anxiety , feelings of competence and self-esteem , coping and social dysfunction were measured using subscales of the General Health Question naire . Somatic anxiety was measured by the anxiety subscale of the Symptom Check List-90 . Exercise improved the total GHQ scores , perceived competence/self-esteem , and coping as measured by the GHQ subscales . There were no significant effects of diet or exercise on quality of life , depression or anxiety . A high rate of participation in the exercise programme ( > 70 % ) was associated with greater improvements in total GHQ scores , anxiety , perceived competence/self-esteem and coping
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 .