Interactive communication strategies - Implications for population-based physical-activity promotion

Physical inactivity is a recognized independent risk factor for the develop ment of cardiovascular disease. However, a large proportion of the U.S. pop ulation does not participate in regular physical activity, and research has shown that without intervention, most people remain sedentary, Thus, an ur gent need exists for developing effective interventions to promote physical -activity adoption and maintenance. Additionally, it is important that thes e interventions can be disseminated to the large population of sedentary in dividuals. To be disseminable, physical-activity interventions must move be yond reliance on strictly face-to-face modes and begin to more fully use ne wer technologies, such as the Internet. This article summarizes the progres s made in promoting physical activity with interactive communications. We a lso delineate areas for future research.