The effect of walking on fitness, fatness and resting blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review was to perform a meta-analysis on walking intervention studies in order to quantify the magnitude and direction of walking-induced changes that may alter selected cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
Twenty-four randomised controlled trials of walking were assessed for quality on a three-point scale. Data from these studies were pooled and treatment effects (TEs) were calculated for six traditional cardiovascular risk variables: body weight, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, aerobic fitness (V(O(2) )max in ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Weighted TEs were analysed using a random effects model with weights obtained using the inverse of the individual TE variances. Random effects models were used to investigate the influence of both study quality and exercise volume (<150 vs. > or =150 min week(-1)).


RESULTS
Random effects modelling showed that walking interventions increased V(O(2) )max and decreased body weight, BMI, percent body fat and resting diastolic blood pressure in previously sedentary adults (p<0.05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide evidence that healthy but sedentary individuals who take up a programme of regular brisk walking improves several known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Murphy
Marie H
MH
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, UK. mh.murphy@ulster.ac.uk
Nevill
Alan M
AM
Murtagh
Elaine M
EM
Holder
Roger L
RL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom; D016138:Walking