Sedentary lifestyles, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease: from research to practice

More than 60% of the world's population is not physically active at levels that promote health. In concert with other behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), sedentary lifestyles exact a heavy medical and economic toll on individuals and societies. Physical activity lowers all-cause mortality, reduces several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and is a category 2 intervention that can halve cardiovascular disease risk. The benefits extend across a wide spectrum of structured as well as lifestyle physical activity levels. Models and programs aimed at translating physical activity's promise in cardiovascular prevention have been assessed, but results have been generally disappointing. A pragmatic strategy based on the "stages of change" or transtheoretical model can be effective. It incorporates self efficacy and individual initiatives, both crucial ingredients necessary to surmount the inevitable hurdles on the path towards physically active lifestyles.