Effects of supervised and unsupervised physical activity programmes for weight loss. (5th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Creasy, S. A.; Rogers, R. J.; Davis, K. K.; Gibbs, B. B.; Kershaw, E. E.; Jakicic, J. M.
• Is Part Of: Obesity science and practice. Volume 3:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2017-05-05
• Subjects: Exercise -- intervention -- obesity; Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/osp4.107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2238

Abstract

Summary: Objectives: Physical activity is important for weight management. However, it remains unclear what type of physical activity prescription/programme is optimal for increasing physical activity during a standard behavioural weight loss intervention. This study examined changes in physical activity after a 12‐week supervised programme prescribed in minutes per week (SUP‐PA), an unsupervised programme prescribed in minutes per week (UNSUP‐PA) and an unsupervised programme prescribed in steps per day (STEP). Methods: Fifty‐two adults who were overweight or obese (age: 43.5 ± 10.1 years, BMI: 31.5 ± 3.5 kg·m −2 ) were randomized to STEP ( n = 18), UNSUP‐PA ( n = 17) and SUP‐PA ( n = 17). Subjects attended weekly in‐person group intervention sessions and were prescribed a calorie‐restricted diet (1, 200–1, 800 kcals·day −1 ) combined with increased physical activity (150 min·week −1 or 10, 000 steps·day −1 with 2, 500 brisk steps·day −1 ). Results: All three groups significantly increased moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (STEP: 80.6 ± 218.5 min·week −1, UNSUP‐PA: 112.9 ± 180.4 min·week −1 and SUP‐PA: 151.1 ± 174.0 min·week −1, p < 0.001) with no differences between groups ( p = 0.94) or group by time interaction ( p = 0.81). In addition, there were no significant differences in weight loss between the groups ( p = 0.81). Conclusions: In this short‐term study, all three physical activity programmes increased physical activity and elicited modest weight loss when combined with a standard behavioural weight loss intervention.