title: Effects of regular exercise and nutritional guidance on body composition, blood pressure, muscle strength and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling Japanese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-month regular exercise and nutritional guidance for body composition, blood pressure, muscle strength and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in community-dwelling Japanese women aged 40-74 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were divided into an intervention group (n = 48) comprising women registered for health guidance and a control group without intervention (n = 66). The intervention group received 6-month exercise and nutritional guidance to modify lifestyle. Before and after the intervention period, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure, muscle strength and HRQOL using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36) questionnaire were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, no significant differences were found between intervention and control groups. Waist circumference decreased significantly in the intervention group (from 82.4 to 79.9 cm) compared to the control group (from 80.5 to 79.7 cm). BMI and body fat percentage also decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group. General health perception, vitality and social functioning in the SF-36 showed significantly greater improvements in the intervention group than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six-month regular exercise and nutritional guidance had beneficial effects on body composition and health-related quality of life especially for mental components of SF-36. Based on these findings, our intervention was expected to provide benefits to mental components of HRQOL and facilitate sustained participation and motivation in modify lifestyles. As a result, beneficial effects on body composition might also be sustained.
authors: Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan. Electronic address:d.uritani@kio.ac.jp.
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Uritani
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Kio University, Nara, Japan.
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Science, Kio University, Nara, Japan.
authors: Yasuyo
authors: Y
authors: Asano
authors: Department of Welfare, Koryo Town, Nara, Japan.
authors: Kyoko
authors: K
authors: Yoshizaki
authors: Department of Welfare, Koryo Town, Nara, Japan.
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Nishida
authors: Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan.
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Shima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference