Open AccessEffects of supervised and unsupervised physical activity programmes for weight loss
Author(s) -
Creasy S. A.,
Rogers R. J.,
Davis K. K.,
Gibbs B. B.,
Kershaw E. E.,
Jakicic J. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
obesity science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 14
ISSN - 2055-2238
DOI - 10.1002/osp4.107
Subject(s) - medicine , weight loss , overweight , physical activity , randomized controlled trial , medical prescription , physical therapy , obesity , body weight , pharmacology
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.