Effects of change in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention on vital age and physical fitness age

Abstract

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of change in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention on health status and physical fitness. Methods : Participants were 22 obese middle-aged men (BMI : 29.1±2.8kg/m2, 54.1±11.4yr). They performed 90-min exercise sessions on a regular basis 3 days per week for 3 months. Physical activity (total energy expenditure, TEE ; activity energy expenditure, AEE ; and step counts) was measured using an accelerometer. Daily physical activity was defined as that which was performed outside of the exercise class. A 3-day food record was used to estimate energy intake. Results : Body weight decreased (-3.0±2.5 kg, P<0.05). Vital age (VA), an index of comprehensive health status, and physical fitness age (PFA), an index of comprehensive physical fitness, significantly improved (VA : -8.7±5.5yr, PFA : -8.5±5.1 yr, P<0.05). Energy intake remained unchanged during the intervention (+63.7 ± 546.1 kcal/d). Daily physical activity increased (TEE : +83.0±130.1 kcal/d, AEE: +76.9±103.3 kcal/d, step counts : +1789±2819 steps/d, P<0.05). Change in daily physical activity was correlated with change in VA (AEE : r = - 0.52, step counts : r= - 0.46, P<0.05), while change in daily physical activity did not correlate with change in PFA. Conclusion : These results suggest that changes in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention are associated with improved health status.