There was mixed evidence of effectiveness across all categories of intervention. While no intervention demonstrated a clear positive effect on all outcome measures considered, some studies showed positive impacts on some outcomes and no intervention had a negative impact on any outcome. We could not identify systematic differences in the characteristics of interventions that were effective at changing at least one outcome and those that were learn more not, but this may be due to the relatively small number of interventions and the large

numbers of different outcomes examined, which makes direct comparisons across studies more difficult. Study quality was variable, with only two intervention studies being rated as high quality, one of which was only two weeks in duration. Our finding of overall limited evidence seems consistent with the broader context. A recent review of reviews found insufficient good-quality evidence to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of dietary and physical activity interventions among this website low-SES populations worldwide, however there was weak evidence that dietary interventions decreased fat intake (O’Mara et al., 2010). A recent review found a small effect of community-wide physical activity interventions on physical activity levels in low-SES groups, however again the evidence base was limited (Cleland et al., 2012b). Similarly, a recent evaluation of the

‘Change for Life’ public health campaign in the UK found little benefit of the intervention on physical activity and dietary behaviours, although engaging with the

intervention had a positive impact on low-SES families and a negative impact on high-SES 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase families (Croker et al., 2012). Our qualitative review indicated a range of barriers to and facilitators of both participation in dietary and physical activity interventions and health behaviour change more generally, which spanned pragmatic, social and psychological concerns. Although some intervention programmes used qualitative research as a means of evaluation, none used qualitative research to inform the content and delivery of the intervention. The research reviewed here provides relevant insights into the needs, expectations and beliefs of people from a range of social and cultural groups who share the characteristic of socioeconomic deprivation. Our qualitative review findings have practical implications for community-based dietary and physical activity interventions targeting low-SES groups and also for policy makers. Sufficient resources are needed to deliver meaningful interventions. Key workers delivering interventions need knowledge and understanding of the community; possibly be a community member. Interventions can increase acceptability by using enjoyable, creative and innovative activities and enhancing (and harnessing) social inclusion. Negative or misunderstood beliefs and connotations surrounding healthy eating and physical activity need to be addressed.