Effect of moderate-intensity exercise bouts lasting <10 minutes on body composition in sedentary Kenyan adults aged ≥50 years

BACKGROUND: Sedentary lifestyles and related morbidities are rising among adults despite existing exercise recommendations. Appealing exercise regimes yielding similar/better body composition should be sought. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of moderate-intensity exercise bouts of <10 min on body composition in previously sedentary adults. Short-duration bouts entailed 5-10 min of jogging thrice daily; long-duration bouts, 30-60 min 3-5 days weekly. Body composition was determined at recruitment and 8-weekly thereafter, for 24 weeks. RESULTS: with WHR ≥0.85 dropped from 46.2% to 15.4% and from 30.8% to 7.7%, respectively. Body composition variables improved for both sexes (all p <0.05) and mean change between exercise regimes was comparable for both sexes. CONCLUSION: In equal cumulative times, moderate-intensity exercise bouts lasting <10 min are comparable with current 30-60 min bouts in body composition modification for adults of ≥50 years.