Table 3 Results individual studies

Exp

Con

Exp

Con

Exp

Con

Exp minus Con

Kono et al. [28] (2013)

Steps/day (accelerometer),n

6250 (2234)

6524 (2349)

8422 (2360)

6534 (1366)

2127 (1075 to 3268)

10 (− 907 to 927)

1888 (968 to 2808)

0.98 (0.48 to1.48)

Time in moderate intensity physical activity, min/day

23 (17)

23 (20)

32 (17)

20 (15)

8 (0.2 to 126.4)

−3 (− 11.1 to 5.7)

15 (7.7 to 22.9)

0.73 (0.25 to 1.22)

Gillham et al. [29] (2010)

Self-reported exercise frequency, n of 20-min sessions/wk

1.2 (1.8)

1.4 (2.4)

2.6 (2.0)

1.9 (2.8)

1.4 (0.34 to 2.46)

0.5 (− 0.95 to 1.95)

0.7 (− 0.66 to 2.06)

0.29* (− 0.26 to 0.83)

Joubert et al. [30] (2009)

Self-reported exercise frequency, n of ‘deliberate’ walks/wk

3.9 (2.9)

4.3 (2.8)

4.7 (2.5)

3.6 (2.7)

0.8 (0.01 to 1.59)

−0.7 (− 1.49 to 0.09)

1.1 (0.35 to 1.85)

0.42 (0.13 to 0.71)

Adie et al. [31] (2010)

Self-reported exercise, min/wk, (median [IQR])

210 (350)

210 (300)

210,225)

150 (340)

median diff 0

median diff −60

median diff

60

p = 0.14

Flemming et al. [32] (2013)

participants self-reported to be exercising, %

NR

NR

83%

33%

participants deemed to be physically active (criteria not reported), n (%)

6 (33)

11 (61)

3 (17)

12 (66)

−15% (− 39.0 to 11.1)

NNT = − 7

−4.9% (− 23.5 to 31.9)

NNT = 21

42% (− 63.0 to − 12.7)

NNT = − 2

Allen et al. [33] (2009)

participants self-reported to be exercising, n (%)

NR

NR

81

71

10 (−0.1 to 20)

Faulkner et al. [34] (2015)^#

IPAQ, min/wk walking

NR

NR

410 (463)

366 (430)

44 (− 191.1 to 279.1)

IPAQ, min/wk moderate intensity activity

NR

NR

328 (376)

105 (249)

223 (55.2 to 390.8)

IPAQ, min/wk vigorous intensity activity

NR

NR

494 (631)

127 (587)

367 (46.4 to 687.6)

Olaiya et al. [35] (2017)^{^}

participants self-reported as being physically active

(≥30 min of moderate intensity activity or ≥ 20 min of vigorous intensity physical activity ≥3 times/week), n (%)

33 (11.7)

37 (13.2)

30 (11.2)

28 (10.5)

0.4% (−5.00 to 5.79)

NNT = 235

2.7% (− 2.81 to 8.15)

NNT = 37

0.7% (−4.65 to 6.08)

NNT = 141

Askim et al. [36] (2018)^**

IPAQ, min/wk walking (median [Q1, Q3])

NR

NR

693 (198, 1386)

643 (198, 1386)

median diff

50

p = 0.55

IPAQ, min/wk moderate intensity activity (median [Q1, Q3])

NR

NR

240 (0, 720)

240 (0, 1350)

median diff

0

p = 0.55

IPAQ, min/wk vigorous intensity activity (median [Q1, Q3])

NR

NR

0 (0, 1020)

0 (0, 240)

median diff

0

p = 0.03

Cheng et al. [37] (2018)

participants self-reported as exercising ≥3 day/wk., n (%)

153 (75)

140 (70)

135 (79)

125 (77)

−8.8% (17.5 to −0.02)

NNT = − 11

−7.5% (− 16.6 to 1.76)

NNT = −13

3.7% (−5.63 to 12.90)

NNT = 27

Teuschl et al. [38] (2017)

% participants self-reported as more than 150 min moderate intensity or 75 min vigorous-intensity pa/week

NR

NR

NR

NR

+ 1.3%

(NR, p = 1.000)

+ 0.0%

(NR, p = 1.000)

1.3%

(NR, p = 0.862)