title: Internet-Based Physical Activity Interventions.
abstract: This article provides a comprehensive review of Internet- and Website-based physical activity interventions targeting adult populations. Search procedures identified 72 unique Internet-based physical activity interventions published in peer-reviewed journals. Participants of the studies were predominately White, middle-aged (mean age = 43.3 years), and female (65.9%). Intervention durations ranged from 2 weeks to 13 months (median = 12 weeks). Forty-six of the studies were randomized controlled trials, 21 were randomized trials without a control condition, 2 were non-randomized controlled trials, and 3 used a single-group design. The majority of studies (n = 68) assessed outcomes immediately following the end of the intervention period, and 16 studies provided delayed postintervention assessments. Forty-four of the 72 studies (61.1%) reported significant increases in physical activity. Future directions for Internet-based physical activity interventions include increasing representation of minority and male populations in Internet-based efforts, conducting delayed postintervention follow-up assessments, and incorporating emerging technologies (ie, cellular and Smartphones) into Internet-based physical activity efforts.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health (RPJ, TJB, DWP) and the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (NHD), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Rodney P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health (RPJ, TJB, DWP) and the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (NHD), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Nefertiti H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Durant
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health (RPJ, TJB, DWP) and the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (NHD), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Tanya J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health (RPJ, TJB, DWP) and the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (NHD), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Dorothy W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pekmezi
keywords: Internet; Web-based; exercise; physical activity