Authors
Jakicic JM. Wing RR. Butler BA. Robertson RJ.
Institution
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Title
Prescribing exercise in multiple short bouts versus one continuous bout:
effects on adherence, cardiorespiratory
fitness, and weight loss in overweight women.
Source
International Journal of Obesity & Related Metabolic Disorders.
19(12):893-901, 1995 Dec.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prescribing exercise in several short-bouts
versus one long-bout per day would enhance exercise adherence,
cardiorespiratory fitness, and weight loss
in overweight adult females in a behavioral weight control program. DESIGN:
Randomized controlled trial with subjects randomized to either a short-bout
exercise group (SB, n = 28, age = 40.4 +/- 5.9 yrs) or a long-bout exercise
group (LB, n = 28, age = 40.9 +/- 7.3 yrs), with subjects followed for a
period of 20 weeks. Both groups were instructed to exercise 5 days per week
with exercise duration progressing from 20 to 40 min per day. The LB group
performed one exercise bout per day, whereas the SB group performed multiple
10 min bouts of exercise per day. The recommended caloric intake for all
subjects was 5022-6277 kJ/day (1200-1500 kcal/day), with fat reduced to 20%
of caloric intake. SUBJECTS: Fifty-six obese, sedentary females (BMI = 33.9
+/- 4.1 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: Exercise participation was assessed from
self-reported diaries and Tri-Trac Accelerometers.
Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed
using a submaximal cycle ergometer test. RESULTS: Exercising in multiple
short-bouts per day improved adherence to exercise: the SB group reported
exercising on a greater number of days (mean +/- s.d. = 87.3 +/- 29.5 days vs
69.1 +/- 28.9 days; P < 0.05) and for a greater total duration (223.8 +/-
69.5 min/week vs 188.2 +/- 58.4 min/week; P = 0.08) than the LB group.
Predicted VO2Peak increased by 5.6% and 5.0% for the LB and SB groups,
respectively (P < 0.05). There was a trend for the weight loss to be greater
in the SB group (-8.9 +/- 5.3 kg) compared to the LB group (-6.4 +/- 4.5 kg;
P < 0.07). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that short-bouts of exercise may
enhance exercise adherence. Short-bouts of exercise may also enhance weight
loss and produce similar changes in cardiorespiratory
fitness when compared to long-bouts of exercise. Thus,
short-bouts of exercise may be preferred when prescribing exercise to obese
adults.