Context. Systematic reviews play an important role in evidence based health promotion. The search and selection methods are at the heart of a systematic review.

Objective. To evaluate the search methods, search reporting, and selection methods of reviews of physical activity interventions to prevent obesity.

Methods. Review articles focusing on physical activity for obesity prevention were retrieved from a list of sources suggested by Cochrane Public Health Group for health promotion/public health reviews. The search methods, search reporting, and selection methods of each review will be evaluated using checklists developed from Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and Systematic Reviews of Health Promotion and Public Health Interventions: Guidelines. Search reporting was also be evaluated using another checklist known as STARLITE (Sampling strategy, Type of studies, Approaches, Range of years, Limits, Inclusion and exclusions, Terms used, and Electronic sources).

Results. 31 articles were evaluated with the following principal findings: most (64%) of the reviews reported 2 or less of the 5 required Cochrane Handbook search approaches; number of databases searched ranged from 1 to 8 (median of 4); only 23% of the articles provided a complete search strategy; the average search precision was 1.12%; and most (61%) of the reviews did not report any element of the selection methods.

Conclusion. The reviews evaluated ranged widely in the depth of the search and level of clarity in search and screening processes. When complete methods are not provided, it is difficult to evaluate the research. While standards for searching, search reporting, and screening procedures are available, awareness and application of the standards has yet to take place in the area of reviewing physical activity interventions with focus on preventing obesity.