Walking as a Prevention of Overweight and Obesity in Women of Middle Age

Background:Women overweight and/or obesity status is dependent on realized physical activities - number of steps during the day. Objective: This study summarizes the use of walking as a means to prevent overweight and/or obesity in middle-aged women. Methods: It follows a5 months 1500 kcal intervention programme for middle-aged women, where at least 85% of women were walking, pointing to significant changes in fitness and body composition.42 healthy women of middle age were evaluated (mean age 49.5±3.6 years, body mass 63.8±4.9 kg, body height 163.7±5.2 cm, body fat 29.8±3.5 %, VO2peak26.2±4.1 ml.kg-1.min-1, vpeak6.1±1.2 km.h-1). Results: The daily number of steps before the intervention ranged from 6450 to 8350 steps.day-1(mean of 7520±790 steps.day-1). During the intervention the daily number ranged from 7860 to 10900 steps.day-1 - mean of 9430±840 steps.day-1. During the programme, the daily realized movement activities increased by 25.4±3.8%. Fitness, characterized by the peak oxygen uptake, improved by15±2.3%. Similarly, the motor performance - maximal walking speed on the treadmill -was increased by about 14±1.9 %. The percentage of body fat was decreased by about 16.2±3.1%. In addition, the predispositions for physical and workload variables, evaluated by ECM/BCM coefficient, were significantly improved. The mean decrease was 4.8±3.3%. Conclusions: We may conclude that walking with the mean energy content of 1500 kcal p. week-1(9430 ± 840 steps per day) is able to reduce significantly overweight and/or obesity (due to current lifestyle) in middle-aged women, and may also be used for the improvement of general physical fitness.