Key Messages

The key characteristics of successful physical activity interventions have been identified through several recent reports, and have been used to develop the Key Messages for Policy and Program Development listed below.

Please click here for more information about the recent systematic reviews of physical activity in children and youth used in the development of this site.

Key Messages for Policy and Program Development:

• "Whole of school" approaches (i.e. incorporating curricular, policy and environmental strategies) are more effective than curriculum-based education alone.
• There is a lack of evidence for effective interventions to promote sustained increased in physical activity among young adults _{(review 1)}.
• A health promotion program focusing on healthy lifestyles may be an important element of successful physical activity strategies. _{(1, 14, 15, 16)}.
• Physical activity interventions may result in modest effects as a result of being carried out over a too short period of time, or from other methodological weaknesses. _{(4, 6)}.
• Different physical activity interventions may be needed for boys and girls _{(5,7, 9, 20, 22 )}.
• Increased training and expertise of physical activity interveners may be linked to increased quality and quantity of physical activity outcomes ₍₆₎.
• Parent and family involvement may be an important component of physical activity interventions _{(1, 10, 15, 27, 28)}.
• School-based interventions appear to be highly effective in reducing physical inactivity _{(9 5, 6, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)}.
• Growing evidence suggests that focusing on reducing sedentary behavior is as effective as targeting increased physical activity especially when performed simultaneously _{(11, 12, 13, 19)}.
• Intervention targeting decreasing sedentary behavior may show higher compliance and adherence rates as compared to interventions targeting physical activity ₍₁₂₎.
• Interventions including both an educational component and an environmental component directed at raising physical activity levels appear to be the most effective at increasing physical activity _{(1, 27)}.
• The barriers preventing children from actively commuting to school need to be addressed and removed. The main barriers to active commuting are thought to be traffic danger and geographic distance. _{(2, 3)}.