Comparison of Supervised and Unsupervised Physical Activity Programs during a Standard Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Adults who are Overweight or Obese

[摘要] Both supervised and unsupervised physical activity programs have successfully increased physical activity and reduced body weight when combined with a standard behavioral weight management program. However, it remains unclear if supervised and unsupervised physical activity programs with similar activity prescriptions change physical activity behavior and physiological responses comparably. Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to examine changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in response to a supervised physical activity program prescribed in minutes/week (SUP-PA), an unsupervised physical activity program prescribed in minutes/week (UNSUP-PA), and an unsupervised physical activity program prescribed in steps/day (STEP) during a standard behavioral weight loss intervention. Methods: Fifty-two overweight and obese adults (age: 43.5 ± 10.1 years, BMI: 31.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2) were randomized to STEP (n=18), UNSUP-PA (n=17), and SUP-PA (n=17). Subjects were prescribed a calorie-restricted diet (1200-1800 kcals/day) and increased physical activity (150 min/week or 10,000 steps/day with 2,500 brisk steps/day). All three groups attended weekly in-person group intervention sessions for 12 weeks. Results: All three groups significantly increased MVPA in bouts of ≥10 minutes over the 12-week intervention (STEP: 11.5 ± 31.2 min/day, UNSUP-PA: 16.1 ± 25.8 min/day, and SUP-PA: 21.6 ± 24.9 min/day, 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: This study provides evidence that unsupervised physical activity prescribed in minutes/week and an unsupervised physical activity program prescribed in steps/day can increase physical activity equally compared to a supervised physical activity program during a standard behavioral weight loss program eliciting similar physiological responses in adults who are overweight or obese.

[发布机构] the University of Pittsburgh