WALKING PROGRAM MAINTENANCE IN WOMEN WITH ELEVATED SERUM-CHOLESTEROL

Health benefits are commonly reported in supervised exercise studies b ur it is not known whether participants remain active upon completion of the program. The walking habits of 21 older women (M = 62.0 +/- 4.8 years) with moderately elevated serum cholesterol were monitored for 12 months following completion of a supervised walking program. The av erage amount they walked per week decreased significantly-from approxi mately 4.5 hours to less than 3 hours after 3 and 6 months, After 12 m onths, one third of the participants continued to walk for more than 4 hours per week 50% walked from 2 to 4 hours per week, and 20% had qui t walking. Walking maintenance was not significantly associated with f itness level, percentage of body fat, or change in weight during the s upervised program. Those who achieved the greatest reduction in serum cholesterol, however, were move likely to maintain walking levels afte r 12 months. Perceived lack of control over their physical activity le vels by older women and loss of socialization and feedback may explain the decrease in activity observed after completion of a supervised pr ogram.