Effectiveness and Challenges for Promoting Physical Activity Globally

How do we know how to make a difference, and if we are making a difference? This is one of the central questions and challenges in determining the effectiveness of health promotion efforts aimed at increasing levels of participation in physical activity at the population level. Despite significant interest since the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, health promotion efforts aimed at physical activity remains a relatively new field. As such, this is one of many areas of research and practice where the evidence of health promotion effectiveness remains poor or at least insufficient.