The effects of 18 months of intermittent vs. continuous exercise on aerobic capacity, body weight and composition, and metabolic fitness in previously sedentary, moderately obese females.

Abstract

To compare the effects of 18 months of continuous vs intermittent exercise on aerobic capacity, body weight and composition, and metabolic fitness in previously sedentary, moderately obese females. Randomized, prospective, long-term cohort study. Subjects performed continuous exercise at 60-75% of maximum aerobic capacity, 3 days per week, 30 min per session, or exercised intermittently using brisk walking for two, 15 min sessions, 5 days per week. Aerobic capacity, body weight, body composition, and metabolic fitness (blood pressure, lipids, glucose and insulin). Significant improvements for aerobic capacity of 8% and 6% were shown for the continuous and intermittent exercise groups, respectively. Weight loss for the continuous exercise group was significant at 2.1% from baseline weight and the intermittent group was essentially unchanged. The continuous group showed a significant decrease in percentage of body fat and fat weight while the intermittent group did not. HDL cholesterol and insulin were significantly improved for both groups. In previously sedentary, moderately obese females, continuous or intermittent exercise performed long-term may be effective for preventing weight gain and for improving some measures of metabolic fitness.