Changes in Aerobic Power, Body Composition, and Exercise Adherence in Obese, Postmenopausal Women Six Months after Exercise Training

To determine the acute and follow-up effects of 4 months of health and fitness education with and without exercise training, 182 sedentary, obese. 60− to 70-year-old women were randomly assigned to the following groups: fitness education (ED. n - 70). fitness education with aerobic training (EX. n = 76), and control (CO. n = 36). Assessments of aerobic power using a submaximal bicycle test, body composition, using the sum of three skinlfolds. and body mass index (BMI) were made before and after the 4-month intervention and at a 3− and 6-month follow-up. Both EX and ED decreased body fat levels (vs. CO) over the course of the study (p < 0.05), with EX showing a slightly greater percent decrease over baseline levels (5.9% vs. 3.7%). Also observed were significant improvements in aerobic power and BMI (both p < 0.001) for EX compared to ED and CO. The average EX and ED exercise adherence levels after 4 months and at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups were 94%. 75%. and 68%. respectively. These findings suggest that, for the most part, long-term success of a fitness education program for older women is more likely if a supervised exercise training component is included.