Some programs effective in sustaining increased exercise

AORN Journal, Oct, 2004

Some behavior modification programs designed to increase exercise show continued effects for at least three months after they end, according to an Aug 2, 2004, news release from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The review of existing evidence, however, also showed that it is difficult to achieve sustainable gains in increased physical activity because few studies looked at the effects of these programs for more than one year.

According to recent statistics, 70% of US adults are not sufficiently physically active, and more than one-third of children do not participate in vigorous exercise regularly. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March 2004 found that 400,000 deaths in the United States can be attributed to poor diet and lack of physical activity--an increase of 33% since 1990.

The AHRQ's evidence review found that no specific behavioral intervention or setting appeared to be more effective than another and that shorter, less intensive programs were just as successful at achieving changes in behavior as programs that lasted longer and involved more contact with participants. Interventions examined included counseling, mailings, and follow-up by telephone. Intervention settings included clinics, community centers, schools, workplaces, child care centers, exercise centers, churches, and participants' homes.

In addition to reviewing evidence from physical activity interventions in healthy populations, the researchers examined the effects of exercise on cancer survivors--people living with cancer or those who have a history of the disease. The researchers concluded that exercise programs can benefit patients with cancer by improving their functional capacity and cardiopulmonary fitness, reducing symptoms of fatigue, and improving quality of life during and after cancer treatment. In addition, exercise can reduce anxiety and depression patients with cancer experience during treatment. The research suggests that physical activity may have other positive effects on patients with cancer, but there have been too few studies from which to draw conclusions.

Some Programs to Increase Exercise Have Lasting Effects (news release, Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Aug 2, 2004) http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2004/pacanpr.htm (accessed 3 Aug 2004.)