Despite the guidelines and the well-recognized benefits of
regular physical activity, there is evidence that a large
number of people is still reported to be inactive. Therefore,
the need for interventions that can promote a healthier
behavior has increased. As an understanding of the
determinants of physical activity behavior by health
professionals is an important prerequisite to designing
effective interventions, studies on the identification of the
determinants of physical activity are warranted. The
purpose of this work is to review and update the research
on determinants underlying physical activity behaviour in
adults and to provide an overview of physical activity
patterns among adult populations. The findings highlight
the need for an evaluation of the interactive effects of
psychosocial, cultural, environmental and public policy
influences on physical activity forging a trans-disciplinary
paradigm.