Effects of Intermittent Exercise and Use of Home Exercise Equipment on Adherence, Weight Loss, and Fitness in Overweight Women

TLDR

Long‑term exercise participation is believed to improve weight loss among overweight adults. The study compared intermittent and continuous exercise on weight loss, adherence, and fitness, and evaluated adding home exercise equipment. An 18‑month randomized trial enrolled 148 sedentary overweight women into three groups: long‑bout exercise, multiple short‑bout exercise, or short‑bout exercise with home treadmill equipment. Adding home exercise equipment to intermittent short‑bout sessions produced significantly greater weight loss and higher exercise adherence than intermittent or continuous exercise alone, with a dose‑response relationship between weekly exercise volume and weight loss, while all groups improved fitness similarly.

Abstract

ContextEnhancing participation in long-term exercise may translate into improved long-term weight loss in overweight adults.ObjectivesTo compare the effects of intermittent with traditional continuous exercise on weight loss, adherence, and fitness, and to examine the effect of combining intermittent exercise with that using home exercise equipment.DesignRandomized trial from September 1996 through September 1998.Setting and ParticipantsA total of 148 sedentary, overweight (mean [SD] body mass index, 32.8 [4.0] kg/m2) women (mean [SD] age, 36.7 [5.6] years) in a university-based weight control program.InterventionsEighteen-month behavioral weight control program with 3 groups: long-bout exercise (LB), multiple short-bout exercise (SB), or multiple short-bout exercise with home exercise equipment (SBEQ) using a treadmill.Main Outcome MeasuresBody weight, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and exercise adherence.ResultsOf 148 subjects, 115 (78%) completed the 18-month program. At 18 months, mean (SD) weight loss was significantly greater in subjects in the SBEQ group compared with subjects in the SB 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 SB or SBEQ groups. Subjects in the SBEQ group maintained a higher level of exercise than subjects in both the SB and LB groups (P<.05) at 13 to 18 months of treatment. All groups showed an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness from baseline 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 individuals exercising 150 to 200 min/wk (−8.5 [5.8] kg) or less than 150 min/wk (−3.5 [6.5] kg) (P<.05).ConclusionsCompared with the LB group, subjects in the SB group did not experience improved long-term weight loss, exercise participation, or cardiorespiratory fitness. Access to home exercise equipment facilitated the maintenance of SB, which may improve long-term weight loss. A dose-response relationship exists between amount of exercise and long-term weight loss in overweight adult women.