title: Accumulating short bouts of brisk walking reduces postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentrations and resting blood pressure in healthy young men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity recommendations promote the accumulation of aerobic activity in bouts of >or=10 min. It is important to determine whether shorter bouts of activity can influence health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared the effects of accumulating ten 3-min bouts of brisk walking with those of one 30-min bout of brisk walking on postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentrations and resting blood pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy young men completed three 2-d trials >or=1 wk apart in a randomized, repeated-measures design. On day 1, subjects rested (no exercise) or walked briskly in either ten 3-min bouts (30 min rest between each) or one 30-min bout (gross energy expenditure: 1.10 MJ/30 min). On day 2, subjects rested and consumed high-fat test meals for breakfast and lunch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 2 area under the plasma triacylglycerol concentration over time curve was 16% lower on the accumulated and continuous brisk walking trials than on the control trial (x +/- SEM: 9.98 +/- 0.67 compared with 9.99 +/- 0.76 compared with 11.90 +/- 1.02 mmol x 7h/L, respectively; P = 0.005, one-factor ANOVA). Resting systolic blood pressure was 6-7% lower throughout day 2 on the accumulated and continuous trials than on the control trial (109 +/- 1 compared with 110 +/- 1 compared with 117 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively; P < 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accumulating 30 min of brisk walking in short (3-min) bouts is equally effective in reducing postprandial lipemia and systolic blood pressure as is one continuous 30-min bout.
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Health Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stensel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides