Increased Daily Physical Activity Contributes To Weight Reduction During An Exercise Program In Obese Men

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of physical activity (PA) during days when not participating in a supervised exercise class (Ex-CL) on weight reduction. METHODS: Twenty one Japanese obese men (body mass index: 30.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2, 52.9 ± 9.3 years) performed 90-min exercise sessions on 3 days per week for 12 weeks. They were also urged to self-initiate increases in PA during daily living. The amount of PA above an intensity of 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) was measured using a triaxial accelerometer which could classify PA to locomotive or lifestyle activity. Participants wore the accelerometer constantly for 2 weeks prior to and during the entire exercise program. PA was expressed as METs and multiplied by activity time (METs·h). A 3-day food record was used to estimate energy intake (EI). RESULTS: EI remained unchanged during the exercise program (from 2069 ± 367 to 2022 ± 336 kcal/day). During non-Ex-CL days, the amount of lifestyle activity remained unchanged (from 1.0 ± 0.6 to 1.0 ± 0.6 METs·h/day) but locomotive activity increased (from 2.4 ± 1.8 to 3.8 ± 2.5 METs·h/day, P < 0.05). There was also a relationship between change (D) in PA during non-Ex-CL days and D in weight (r = -0.70, P < 0.01), although no relationship was observed between D in PA during Ex-CL days and D in weight (r = -0.36, P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in PA appears to be due to locomotive activity and not lifestyle activity in men. These results suggest that increased PA during non-Ex-CL days strongly contributes to weight reduction during an exercise program.