Long-Term Effects in the EXERDIET-HTA Study: Supervised Exercise Training vs. Physical Activity Advice

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular health
• Exercise physiology
• Obesity management

Background:

• Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for hypertension and poor cardiometabolic health.
• Supervised exercise interventions combined with hypocaloric diets can improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), blood pressure (BP), and body composition.
• The long-term maintenance of these health improvements after unsupervised periods is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the maintenance of improvements in CRF, BP, and body composition after a 16-week supervised intervention.
• To evaluate the impact of transitioning to unsupervised exercise and diet recommendations for six months post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• 190 overweight/obese, inactive participants with primary hypertension were randomized into supervised exercise or control groups.
• Intervention included a 16-week supervised program followed by 6 months of unsupervised advice.
• Measurements of anthropometrics, BP, and CRF were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and after 6 months.

Main Results:

• After 6 months unsupervised, body mass and waist circumference increased from post-intervention levels but remained lower than baseline.
• Blood pressure levels returned to pre-intervention values, indicating a loss of improvement.
• Cardiorespiratory fitness decreased from post-intervention levels but remained elevated compared to baseline.

Conclusions:

• Significant improvements in cardiometabolic health achieved during supervised interventions are not maintained after supervision is removed.
• A decline in health markers occurs when individuals transition to unsupervised exercise and diet recommendations.
• Regular, systematic, and supervised programs are crucial for sustained cardiometabolic health in overweight populations with hypertension.