Effects of intermittent exercise and use of home exercise equipment on adherence, weight loss, and fitness in overweight women - A randomized trial

Context Enhancing participation in long-term exercise may translate into im proved long-term weight loss in overweight adults. Objectives To compare the effects of intermittent with traditional continuo us exercise on weight loss, adherence, and fitness, and to examine the effe ct of combining intermittent exercise with that using home exercise equipme nt. Design Randomized trial from September 1996 through September 1998. Setting and Participants A total of 148 sedentary, overweight (mean [SD] bo dy mass index, 32.8 [4.0] kg/m(2)) women (mean [SD] age, 36.7 [5.6] years) in a university-based weight control program. Interventions Eighteen-month behavioral weight control program with 3 group s: long-bout exercise (LB), multiple short-bout exercise (SB), or multiple short-bout exercise with home exercise equipment (SBEQ) using a treadmill. Main Outcome Measures Body weight, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitn ess, and exercise adherence. Results Of 148 subjects, 115 (78%) completed the 18-month program. At 18 mo nths, mean (SD) weight loss was significantly greater in subjects in the SB EQ group compared with subjects in the SE group (-7.4 [7.8] kg vs -3.7 [6.6 ] kg; P<.05). Mean (SD) weight loss for subjects in the LB group (-5.8 [7.1 ] kg) was not significantly different than for subjects in the SE or SBEQ g roups. Subjects in the SBEQ group maintained a higher level of exercise tha n subjects in both the SE and LB groups (P<.05) at 13 to 18 months of treat ment. All groups showed an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness from basel ine to 18 months, with no difference between groups. Mean (SD) weight loss at 18 months was significantly greater in individuals exercising more than 200 min/wk throughout the intervention (-13.1 [8.0] kg) compared with indiv iduals exercising 150 to 200 min/wk (-8.5 [5.8] kg) or less than 150 min/wk (-3.5 [6.5] kg) (P<.05). Conclusions Compared with the LB group, subjects in the SE group did not ex perience improved long-term weight loss, exercise participation, or cardior espiratory fitness. Access to home exercise equipment facilitated the maint enance of SE, which may improve long-term weight loss. A dose-response rela tionship exists between amount of exercise and long-term weight loss in ove rweight adult women.