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 Fun, Food, and Fitness Project (FFFP): the Baylor GEMS pilot study.
OBJECTIVE The Girls health Enrichment Multisite Studies ( GEMS ) Fun , Food , and Fitness Project ( FFFP ) was design ed to prevent obesity among 8-year-old African-American girls . DESIGN Twelve-week , two-arm parallel group r and omized controlled pilot study . SETTING Summer day camp and homes in Houston , Texas . PARTICIPANTS Thirty-five girls and their parents or caregivers were r and omly assigned to treatment ( N=19 ) or control groups ( N=16 ) . INTERVENTION Girls in the intervention group attended a special 4-week summer day camp , followed by a special 8-week home Internet intervention for the girls and their parents . Control group girls attended a different 4-week summer day camp , followed by a monthly home Internet intervention , neither of which components included the GEMS-FFFP enhancements . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body mass index ( BMI ) , consumption of fruit , 100 % fruit juice , and vegetables ( FJV ) , physical activity . RESULTS After adjusting for baseline BMI , there were no significant differences in BMI between treatment and control group girls , either at the end of the 4-week summer day camp , or after the full 12-week intervention . By the end of the summer camp , the subgroup of treatment group girls heavier at baseline exhibited a trend ( P<.08 ) toward lower BMI , compared to their heavier counterparts in the control group . Overall results at the end of the 12-week program demonstrated substantial , although not significant , differences between treatment and control groups in the hypothesized directions . On average , less than half the treatment sample logged onto the Website , which limited intervention dose . CONCLUSIONS Summer day camp appears to offer promise for initiating health behavior change . Effective methods must be developed and tested to enhance log-on rates among healthy children and their parents before Internet programs can achieve their potential
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 .