What Strengthening Activities Do Women Perform? Findings From The Women's Injury (WIN) Study

Abstract

Recent physical activity (PA) guidelines from USDHHS and ACSM stress the importance of including resistance exercises in one's PA behaviors; however, the degree to which women follow these recommendations is not known. PURPOSE: To determine via self-report the amount and types of strengthening activities women perform on a weekly basis and relate reported strengthening activities to overweight/obesity. METHODS: 732 community-dwelling women in a longitudinal study were invited to complete an internet-based survey including questions on type and frequency of specific strengthening activities they perform. 606 women (83% response) responded to the survey conducted for 3 weeks during the fall of 2009. RESULTS: 222 (37% of all respondents) reported performing resistance (weight) training ≥2 days per week, and 190 (31%) of these reported performing both upper- and lower-body resistance training. 70 (12%) reported doing Pilates, 126 (21%) reported doing Yoga, and 166 (27%) reported using exercise bands on a weekly basis; Pilates, Yoga, and band exercises were mainly performed 1 or 2 days per week (≥75%). 144 (65%) of the 222 respondents reporting resistance training also reported performing at least one of the following on a weekly basis: Pilates 43, Yoga 66, and band exercises 96. Performing Pilates (OR = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.3 to 0.8), Yoga (OR = 0.4; 95%CI = 0.3 to 0.6), or resistance training ≥2 days per week (OR = 0.4; 95%CI = 0.3 to 0.6) was associated with a significantly (p<0.05) reduced odds of being overweight (BMI ≥ 25). Age was unrelated to performing any of the 4 types of strengthening activities. CONCLUSION: The percentage of women who reported performing both upper and lower body resistance training ≥2 days per week, as recommended in the PA guidelines, was higher than the baseline prevalence (18%) reported for Healthy People 2010 and was slightly above the goal of 30% set by Healthy People 2010. Furthermore, performing Pilates, Yoga, or resistance training was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity. This study did not examine what women consider resistance (weight) training, thus it is possible that some of the 65% who reported performing resistance training ≥2 days per week considered Pilates, Yoga, or exercise band exercises as resistance training. Supported by NIH NIAMS Grant R01 AR052459