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Unfavorable influence of structured exercise program on total leisure-time physical activity
N Wasenius1, M Venojärvi, S Manderoos
1Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|November 20, 2012
Summary
Structured exercise interventions did not increase total leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in obese men. The control group even showed higher LTPA, suggesting compensation or spontaneous activity, which must be considered in trial designs.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Metabolic Health
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Structured physical exercise activity (SPEA) interventions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aim to improve health.
- The dose of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in intervention groups should exceed controls to validate exercise benefits.
- Obese middle-aged men with impaired glucose regulation were studied to assess physical activity doses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the dose of SPEA, LTPA, and total LTPA (SPEA + LTPA) between Nordic walking (NW), resistance training (RT), and control (C) groups.
- To investigate if structured exercise interventions increase overall physical activity levels in obese men.
- To inform RCT design by considering total LTPA and spontaneous activity changes.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week randomized controlled trial involving 144 obese middle-aged men with impaired glucose regulation.
- Participants were assigned to either a Nordic walking (NW) group, a power-type resistance training (RT) group, or a control (C) group.
- Physical activity dose was quantified using diaries and metabolic equivalents (METs).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in total LTPA (SPEA + LTPA) volume was observed between the NW, RT, and C groups (P > 0.107).
- The control group exhibited significantly higher LTPA volume compared to the NW group (P < 0.050), but not the RT group.
- Structured exercise did not automatically lead to an increased total LTPA dose.
Conclusions:
- Structured exercise interventions may not increase total leisure-time physical activity, potentially due to compensatory behavior or increased spontaneous activity in controls.
- RCT designs should account for total LTPA and spontaneous physical activity changes to accurately assess exercise intervention effects.
- The findings highlight the complexity of measuring physical activity dose in exercise intervention studies.
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