Evidence-based intervention in physical activity: lessons from around the world
Promotion of physical activity is a priority for health agencies. We searched for reviews of physical activityinterventions, published between 2000 and 2011, and identifi ed eff ective, promising, or emerging interventions from around the world. The informational approaches of community-wide and mass media campaigns, and short physical activity messages targeting key community sites are recommended. Behavioural and social approaches are eff ective, introducing social support for physical activity within communities and worksites, and school-based strategies thatencompass physical education, classroom activities, after-school sports, and active transport. Recommendedenvironmental and policy approaches include creation and improvement of access to places for physical activity within formational outreach activities, community-scale and street-scale urban design and land use, active transport policyand practices, and community-wide policies and planning. Thus, many approaches lead to acceptable increases inphysical activity among people of various ages, and from diff erent social groups, countries, and communities.