Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42484815›Full record

SynthesisCurrent obesity reports2026

A Systematic Review of Community-based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity or Reduce Sedentary Behavior among Adults in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Madhur Verma, Madhu Gupta, Gursimer Jeet, Hans Bosma, Annemarie Koster

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current obesity reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Madhur VermaDepartment of Social Medicine, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. madhur.verma@maastrichtuniversity.nl.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1787-8392
Madhu GuptaDepartment of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160011, India.
Gursimer JeetConsultant- Health Impact Assessment, British Columbia, V6M1T5, Canada.
Hans BosmaDepartment of Social Medicine, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Annemarie KosterDepartment of Social Medicine, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewCommunity-based interventions (CBIs) are widely used to address behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases, yet evidence of their effectiveness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains limited. This study systematically reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of CBIs promoting physical activity (PA) and/or reducing sedentary behavior (SB) among community-dwelling adults in LMICs. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library (2000-2024) for CBIs in LMICs. Primary outcomes were changes in PA and/or SB. Descriptive and graphical depictions were used to draw inferences. RECENT

findingsWe selected 24 studies (11 RCTs) from 15,396 for review. Most studies (n = 16) reported significant improvements in PA outcomes. Changes were observed in Metabolic Equivalents (+ 100 - +2,700), moderate-to-vigorous PA (+ 7 to + 60 min/week), and steps/day (+ 3,000). Broadly, interventions were delivered using digital/technology format (n = 10), peer-led/community health worker-facilitated (n = 8), and Environmental restructuring (n = 6), with the digital interventions depicting the most consistent significant improvements. Two studies directly measured SB as a primary outcome. Short- (≤ 6 months; n = 11) and medium-duration (6-12 months; n = 4) interventions more frequently reported significant PA improvements than long-duration interventions (> 12 months; n = 9). PA/SB-focused CBI demonstrated proportions of significant effects similar to those of broader lifestyle interventions (88.9% and 53.3%, respectively). CBIs can be effective in improving PA in LMICs, although evidence is heterogeneous and SB is less addressed. Digital interventions show more consistent positive signals, but high heterogeneity in studies precludes firm conclusions. The impact of duration on effectiveness looks counterintuitive but underscores the need for more rigorous evaluation of longer-duration interventions and SB outcomes. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024579461.

Indexed as

Community Health ServicesDeveloping CountriesExerciseHealth PromotionSedentary BehaviorAdultHealth BehaviorHumansBehavioral risk factorsCommunity-based interventionsLow-middle-income countriesPhysical activitySedentary behavior

Identifiers

PMID42484815
PMCPMC13391703

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.