Physical Activity Interventions in Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review

Objective: To review and assess the effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered in faith-based organizations.

Data source: We searched the Cochrane Library, DoPHER, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, WHO ICTRP, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases until January 2016, without restriction of language or publication date.

Study inclusion and exclusion criteria: Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials investigating physical activity interventions for adults delivered in faith-based organizations.

Data extraction: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study methodological quality.

Data synthesis: We used relative risk and mean difference with 95% confidence interval to estimate the effect of the interventions on measures of physical activity, physical fitness, and health.

Results: The review included 18 studies. Study participants were predominantly female, and the majority of trials were conducted in the United States. Study heterogeneity did not allow us to conduct meta-analyses. Although interventions delivered in faith-based organizations increased physical activity and positively influenced measures of health and fitness in participants, the quality of the evidence was very low.

Conclusion: Faith-based organizations are promising settings to promote physical activity, consequently addressing health disparities. However, high-quality randomized clinical trials are needed to adequately assess the effectiveness of interventions delivered in faith-based organizations.