WALKING, FITNESS, BODY-COMPOSITION AND INCH LOSS

Twenty-two women aged 53.4+/-8.6 years (mean+/-SD) walked four nights per week for eight weeks at 76% of maximum heart rate in an indoor fac ility. The women maintained their regular diet as evidenced by compari son of three-day diet records before and during the study. The fitness level of the women improved. Resting heart rate improved from 78.2+/- 9.9 beats per minute (bpm) to 71.4+/-9.9 bpm after eight weeks of walk ing (p<0.05). Heart rate after 6 minutes on a treadmill set at 3 miles per hour also improved (117+/-19.0 bpm before to 110.6+/-11.1 bpm aft er, p<0.05). The subjects lost weight (75.23+/-17.9 kg before to 74.55 +/-17.81 kg after, p<0.05), and reduced percent body fat (34.4+/-6.0 t o 33.4+/-6.0 percent, p<0.005). Circumference measures only indicated a reduction in one area. The chest measure reduced from 40.9+/-5.4 to 39.8+/-5.2 inches, (p<0.005). Therefore, this study indicated that wal king can result in increased fitness, weight loss, and fat loss. Inch loss may not be as easily detectable.