More Evidence Needed to Determine
Effectiveness of College-Based
Health Education and PE in
Increasing Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is associated with a healthier, longer life. Physically active people have a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. Despite all the benefits of physical activity, most people in this country are sedentary. Given that regular physical activity helps people enjoy better health, an important question is: what strategies work best in helping people become more physically active?

Available studies provided insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of college-based health education and physical education (PE) interventions in increasing physical activity and fitness. This does not mean that these interventions are ineffective, but that additional research is needed to determine their effects.

• College-based health education and PE interventions aim to set long-term behavioral patterns during the transition to adulthood. To this end, they use didactic and behavioral education efforts to increase physical activity levels among college students. The physical education classes do not have to be offered by PE or wellness departments in college and university settings, but they do include supervised physical activity in the class. The studies in our review included lecture classes that addressed the benefits and potential risks of physical activity, the current recommendations about the amount and type of physical activity one should get, and behavioral management techniques. Students applied these lessons in “laboratory”-type sessions in which they engaged in supervised physical activity, developed goals and activity plans, and wrote term papers based on their experiences. Students also received social support and phone calls from each other and made behavioral contracts for an agreed-on amount of physical activity.

• The studies generally showed consistent increases in physical activity and aerobic capacity in the short term. The 2-year follow-up showed declines in activity back to previous levels and did not find the desired effects on the proposed mediators of behavioral change. According to Community Guide rules of evidence, because of the small number of qualifying studies, limitations in some of the studies’ design and execution, and some inconsistency in the results (with positive results mostly limited to very short follow-up times), insufficient evidence was available to determine the effectiveness of college-based health education and PE interventions in increasing physical activity behavior and fitness.



• One study, reported in two papers, measured effects on several hypothesized mediators of behavioral change. Among men, there was some evidence of an increase in the social support of friends and family for physical activity and of self-efficacy for resisting relapse into physical inactivity. Some evidence was available of a decrease in the perceived barriers to being physically active. Among women, increases were found in the use of experiential and behavioral processes of change and statistically nonsignificant increases were found in enjoyment, social support, self-efficacy, and perceived benefits and barriers.

• American Journal of Preventive Medicine – Am J Prev Med 2002: 22 (4S); 73-107 . A report on e vidence and findings.
• MMWR/Recommendations and Reports – October 26, 2001/Vol. 50/ No. RR-18. A report on findings.

The findings and conclusions in this report have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

The Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide) provides recommendations on population-based interventions to promote health and to prevent disease, injury, disability, and premature death, appropriate for use by communities and healthcare systems. For more information about the Community Guide (including links to publications and a variety of resources) see www.thecommunityguide.org and for more information about the physical activity review see www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/.

This information is in the public domain. Copying and disseminating freely is encouraged. However, citation to source is appreciated.

Updated – January 23, 2008