The effects of 18 months of intermittent vs. continuous exercise on aerobic capacity, body weight and composition, and metabolic fitness in previously sedentary, moderately obese females.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of 18 months of continuous vs intermittent exercise on aerobic capacity, body weight and composition, and metabolic fitness in previously sedentary, moderately obese females.


METHODS
Randomized, prospective, long-term cohort study. Subjects performed continuous exercise at 60-75% of maximum aerobic capacity, 3 days per week, 30 min per session, or exercised intermittently using brisk walking for two, 15 min sessions, 5 days per week.


METHODS
Aerobic capacity, body weight, body composition, and metabolic fitness (blood pressure, lipids, glucose and insulin).


RESULTS
Significant improvements for aerobic capacity of 8% and 6% were shown for the continuous and intermittent exercise groups, respectively. Weight loss for the continuous exercise group was significant at 2.1% from baseline weight and the intermittent group was essentially unchanged. The continuous group showed a significant decrease in percentage of body fat and fat weight while the intermittent group did not. HDL cholesterol and insulin were significantly improved for both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In previously sedentary, moderately obese females, continuous or intermittent exercise performed long-term may be effective for preventing weight gain and for improving some measures of metabolic fitness.
Donnelly
J E
JE
Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences, 104 Robinson Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. DonnellyJ@Ukans.edu
Jacobsen
D J
DJ
Heelan
K S
KS
Seip
R
R
Smith
S
S
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015431:Weight Loss
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids