LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN CHANGES IN WOMEN FOLLOWING 6 MONTHS OF EXERCISETRAINING IN A WORKSITE FITNESS PROGRAM

It was the purpose of this investigation to examine the influence of a worksite aerobic training program on serum lipid and lipoproteins and cardiovascular fitness in female employees. Thirty-seven healthy but previously untrained, female employees (Ss) from Westinghouse Corporat ion, (College Station, Texas) volunteered for the study. Ss were rando mly assigned to either an exercise group (Ex) (n = 20) or control grou p (C) (n = 17). Prior to training (PRE) and following training (POST), all Ss were measured for weight (WT), body composition (%FAT) and tes ted for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max). PRE and POST Lipid analy sis included: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholest erol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-de nsity lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). Follow ing PRE testing, the Ex group aerobically trained by walking, jogging and/or cycling, at least 3 days per wk for 24 wks. Exercise training r esulted in an improvement in VO2 max (p < 0.0006) and a 2 kg WT loss i n Ex (p < 0.025) with no change in C. Both Ex and C Ss exhibited a los s in %FAT (p < 0.0001), and a decrease in TC (p < 0.0001) and LDL-C (p < 0.0001). No differences were observed between groups or over tile t raining period for VLDL-C or TG. Although HDL-C increased 6 mg/dl in t he Ex group but not in C, this difference did not reach statistical si gnificance (p < 0.0625). These results demonstrate that aerobic traini ng by females in a worksite fitness program significantly improves car diovascular fitness without altering lipids or lipoproteins.