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Adiposity changes after a 1-year aerobic exercise intervention among postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled
C M Friedenreich1, C G Woolcott, A McTiernan
1Department of Population Health Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. christine.friedenreich@albertahealthservices.ca
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|September 8, 2010
Summary
A year-long aerobic exercise program significantly reduced body fat and abdominal adiposity in previously sedentary postmenopausal women. This intervention aligns with public health guidelines and may influence breast cancer risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology and oncology.
- Public health and preventative medicine.
Background:
- Physical activity is linked to reduced breast cancer risk, with adiposity potentially mediating this association.
- Sedentary postmenopausal women are a key demographic for studying lifestyle interventions.
- Understanding the impact of exercise on body composition is crucial for cancer prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a structured aerobic exercise intervention on adiposity in sedentary postmenopausal women.
- To determine if changes in body fat and abdominal fat correlate with exercise volume.
- To assess the role of exercise in modifying risk factors for breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 320 sedentary postmenopausal women (aged 50-74).
- A 1-year aerobic exercise program (45 min, 5 times/week) versus a control group maintaining usual activity.
- Measurements included anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for total body fat, and CT scans for abdominal adiposity.
Main Results:
- The exercise group showed significant reductions in body weight, total body fat, intra-abdominal fat, and subcutaneous abdominal fat compared to controls (P<0.001).
- Mean differences favored exercisers: -1.8 kg body weight, -2.0 kg total body fat, -14.9 cm² intra-abdominal fat, -24.1 cm² subcutaneous abdominal fat.
- A dose-response relationship was observed, with greater exercise volume leading to more significant fat loss.
Conclusions:
- A 1-year aerobic exercise program adhering to public health guidelines effectively reduces adiposity in previously sedentary postmenopausal women.
- The findings suggest that exercise interventions can modify key adiposity measures relevant to breast cancer risk.
- This study supports the implementation of aerobic exercise for improving health outcomes and potentially lowering breast cancer risk in this population.
