THE RESPONSE OF OBESE FEMALES TO LOW IMPACT EXERCISE AND DIET COUNSELING

Obese women enrolled in a 24 week low impact exercise program were ass igned to either an exercise or an exercise plus diet counselling treat ment. Overweight volunteers were recruited to serve as the control gro up. No significant changes were observed in maximal oxygen uptake, ser um lipids, body composition, self esteem or physical body image during the program. A significant negative correlation was found between cha nges in serum HDL-C and changes in percent body fat. Maximal oxygen up take was significantly and positively related to self esteem and physi cal body image. Participants who received diet counselling were less l ikely to drop out of the program than other members of the exercise gr oup, and were more likely to attend classes. Changes in dietary intake were similar in all exercising subjects, regardless of counselling. T hese results suggest that a short term program of low impact exercise may not be sufficient to produce significant adaptations in this popul ation.