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Researchers from University of Tsukuba conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 116 studies to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions for healthy adults and the components of effective interventions. Their findings showed minor intervention effects, suggesting a need to improve the intervention programs. The researchers identified not only possible effective but also inhibitory intervention components.

Tsukuba, Japan—Physical inactivity (insufficient physical activity levels) is a serious public health issue that results in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Increasing physical activity among the working-age population, which represents ~65% of the total population, is expected to improve health and prevent disease earlier. Numerous intervention studies have been conducted to increase physical activity levels. In this study, the researchers systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions and their components for healthy adults in published studies. Specifically, they identified and evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention components based on the behavior change techniques taxonomy, a reliable and standardized classification of techniques used in interventions that aim to change behavior.

Using two literature databases (PubMed and Ichu-shi Web), a total of 116 randomized controlled trials related to exercise or physical activity that targeted healthy adults aged 18-65 years and published by May 31, 2024, were included in the analyses. The meta-analysis results revealed that the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions for adults was minimal, suggesting the importance of improving intervention programs. The meta-regression analysis showed that "review behavior goal(s)" was an effective intervention component among the behavioral change techniques used. In addition, several intervention components were identified as potentially effective or inhibitory components.

Developing an intervention program that incorporates the effective and inhibitory intervention components identified in this meta-regression analysis conducted in this study may lead to more efficient strategies for promoting physical activity.

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This research was funded by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Program, grant number JPMH20FA1006.

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

Effectiveness and Components of Health Behavior Interventions on Increasing Physical Activity Among Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses

Journal:

Behavioral Sciences

DOI:

10.3390/bs14121224

Correspondence

Professor NAKATA Yoshio
Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Associate Professor KIYOHARA Kosuke
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Home Economics, Otsuma Women's University

Assistant Professor TSUJIMOTO Takehiko
Faculty of Human Sciences, Shimane University

Related Link

Institute of Health and Sport Sciences