A 6-month exercise intervention among inactive and overweight favela-residing women in Brazil: the Caranguejo Exercise Trial.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the viability and efficacy of a known quantity of exercise in facilitating weight loss among previously sedentary or irregularly active overweight and obese adult women residing in a slum (favela) in Brazil.


METHODS
In this randomized controlled trial, 156 women were randomized to a control or intervention group (78 in each group). Exercise was supervised, consisting of three 50-minute aerobic sessions each week for 6 months.


RESULTS
Ninety-one percent (71) of the participants in the intervention group completed 6 months of the exercise program. At 6 months, women in the treatment group showed significant reduction in weight (mean=-1.69 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-2.36,-1.03) and body mass index (mean=-0.63 kg/m2; 95% CI=-0.97, -0.30) compared with controls (P for both<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
A moderately intense, structured exercise program resulted in modest weight loss in women when sustained for 6 months.
Instituto Materno Infantil Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Rua dos Coelhos, 300, Boa Vista Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 50070-080. joaoguilherme@imip.org.br
João G
JG
Alves
Catharine R
CR
Gale
Nanette
N
Mutrie
Jailson B
JB
Correia
G David
GD
Batty
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss