This study tested the effectiveness of a 6-month university-based community outreach weight management program for overweight/obese adults that utilized standard guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This article also provides practical observations for clinicians desirous to employ a similar program. Fifty-one overweight/obese (34.8 ± 6.6 kg/m(2)) middle-aged (46.6 ± 12.4 y) adults (42 females; 9 males) participated. Participants met weekly for 3 months to be weighed, to report weekly diet and physical activity (PA) data, and to receive instruction for weight management. Participants followed a self-selected dietary plan that included decreasing energy intake by ∼500-1000 kcal/d and consuming a combined 5 fruits and/or vegetables (FV) daily. Participants progressed to a minimum of 150 min of PA per week, wore a pedometer, and recorded daily step counts. Additionally, there was a 3-month follow-up during which participants met monthly but continued tracking FV, PA, and pedometer counts. Body weight decreased significantly (∼0.4-2.1 lbs per week; P < 0.01) during the first 3 months. Weight loss was maintained during the 3-month follow-up. Self-reported energy intake tended to increase during the first 3 months (P < 0.01). PA increased significantly (P < 0.05) beyond recommended minimums and pedometer counts increased significantly (P < 0.01). FV intake averaged below 5 per day and did not change across the study (P = 0.75). Standard treatment guidelines produce modest but consistent weight loss and improvements in PA. The NHLBI recommended approach to weight management is effective for a majority of participants and can be incorporated into a clinical program with relative ease.

An acute resistance training (RT) session can alter an individual's metabolism and behavior habits during the days following the session. However, the dose response effect on these changes in metabolism and behavior habits is unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the dose response effects (1-set vs. 3-sets) of a single, whole body circuit resistance training (CRT) session on resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory quotient (RQ), caloric consumption, muscle soreness (MS), free-living physical activity and fasting venous blood free fatty acid (FFA), glucose, and insulin at baseline and 24, 48, and 72 hours (hrs) after a single CRT session. It was hypothesized that 3-sets would have a more positive impact on all the metabolic parameters, while behavior habits would be unaffected between or within doses. METHODS: Nine healthy, previously untrained males (mean ± SD; BMI = 25.8 ± 1.9) participated in this study. All participants performed both a 1-set and 3-set CRT session (10 exercises, 10RM) in a counterbalanced randomized order, with the previously stated measurements taken at each time point. A two (dose) by four (time) repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for significance, while a Tukey's HSD post hoc test was used to test for specific differences. RESULTS: Measured REE, FFA, glucose, and insulin levels were not significantly different at any time point (p > 0.05). Measured RQ after 3-sets was significantly lower (0.81) 24-hrs after exercise compared to baseline (0.85), and remained lower for up to 72-hrs. There was a trend for increased caloric consumption after 3-sets compared to 1-set. Muscle soreness was significantly (p < 0.05) greater at the 24 and 48-hr time points after 3-sets, while no significant (p > 0.05) changes were observed after 1-set. Free-living physical activity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher during the 3-set protocol the day of exercise and during the 24 to 48-hr post exercise period compared to the 1-set protocol. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis was partially supported, since 3-sets did not improve all metabolic parameters better than 1-set. However, 3-sets resulted in more fat kilocalories burned at rest after exercise compared to 1-set. Collectively, these results have important implications for resistance training prescriptions for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes prevention.

Pedometers are useful for tracking physical activity (PA) in young and adult populations. More than one means of locomotion is typically used by many children and adults when engaging in PA. PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of the SW-701 (Tokyo, Japan) pedometer while walking, skipping, galloping, and sliding on a treadmill; to assess intensity and perceived exertion during these movements. METHODS: Thirty-four participants (25.2±4.5 yrs, 176.1±8.7 cm, 82.3±15.5 kg) performed the four locomotor movements in randomized order on the treadmill at 3.5 mph (93.8 m/min) for three minutes with one week between each trial. Participants wore the pedometer clipped to the waistband along the anterior right thigh. A Polar heart rate monitor measured heart rate (HR) and the Borg's 6-20 scale was used to measure rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Actual steps (AC) were determined by the investigator using a hand tally counter. ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to determine differences between AC, pedometer counts, HR's and RPE among the trials. Significance was set at p<.05 for all tests. RESULTS: Counts from the SW-701 were significantly lower than AC while skipping (450.2±68.7 and 578.5±68.4, respectively; p<.05), galloping (495.2±30.7 and 517.2±37.2, respectively; p<.05), and sliding (423.9±82.9 and 590.7±53.9, respectively; p<.05), and not significantly different while walking (358.5±30.7 and 357.3±23.3, respectively; p>.05). Walking HR's (112.2±23.3 b/min) were significantly lower than skipping (160.5±21.9 b/min), galloping (157.0±15.1 b/min), and sliding (171.0±17.4 b/min), p<.05; with sliding HR's significantly higher than walking (p<.05), skipping (p<.05), and galloping (p<.05). The same was evident with RPE, which was significantly lower while walking (8.1±1.73) compared to skipping (11.0±2.36), galloping (11.3±1.96) and sliding(13.4±2.53), p<.05. While sliding, RPE was significantly higher than walking (p<.05), skipping (p<.05), and galloping (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The SW-701 may have a tendency to underestimate physical activity in movements other than walking. The increases in HR's and RPE during movements other than walking indicate greater intensities at an absolute speed that may not be fully reflected by the pedometer counts.

PURPOSE: To compare net energy expenditure (EE) and pedometer steps during walking and jogging in overweight and lean women. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy women (20.7±1.6 y, 66.2±9.4 kg, 35.9±5.4 ml/kg/min, 24.4±3.3 kg/m2) participated in this study. Thirteen were normal weight (BMI< 25 kg/m2), ten were overweight (BMI≥25 kg/m2), and all were non-smokers, not on medications affecting metabolism, and able to run 1 mile continuously at 5 mph. Each participant reported to the laboratory on 3 separate days, within a 1-week period, at the same time, under the same conditions, and with at least 1 day separating each visit. During the first visit, tests for resting metabolic rate (RMR) via indirect calorimetery, anthropometric measures, and VO2max via indirect calorimetry were determined. On the second visit, EE was assessed using indirect calorimetry during a 1-mile walk at 3 mph. On the third visit, EE was again assessed using indirect calorimetry during a 1-mile jog at 5 mph. Net EE was determined by subtracting RMR from the total EE during the 1-mile walk and 1-mile jog. During both the walk and the jog participants wore a pedometer to account for steps taken. RESULTS: For the lean women, RMR was 1461±162 kcal/d and was significantly lower than the overweight women (1643±108 kcal/d). Net EE was 30% lower than total EE for the walk and 13% lower for the jog in lean women and 28% lower during the walk and 12% lower for the jog in overweight women. The net EE during the 1-mile walk was 47±5 kcal for the lean women and 59±7 kcal for the overweight women and during the 1-mile jog was 82±11 kcal for the lean women and 100±14 kcal for the overweight women. The overweight women burned more energy for both the walk and the jog compared to the lean women (P<0.05). For both groups, pedometer steps were lower during the jog than the walk (P<0.05); however, there were no differences in steps between groups for the walk or jog (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that there is a significant difference in EE during walking and jogging between lean and overweight women. These data may be used as a practical measure in teaching lean and overweight individuals the reality of EE during walking and jogging activities.

Compression socks seem to work by reducing venous pooling and improving deeper tissue oxygenation and may also increase the ejection fraction of the calf muscle pump. This reduced pooling and increased ejection fraction in the lower leg may then increase venous outflow, thereby possibly increasing stroke volume and decreasing heart rate (HR) at an absolute workload. While there are benefits to wearing compression socks in an occupational setting (i.e. nurses), less research has been conducted on the effects of compression socks during exercise in a non-athletic population. PURPOSE: To examine HR, oxygen consumption (VO2), and perceived exertion (RPE) responses while walking on a treadmill. METHODS: A Polar HR transmitter interfaced with a True One (ParvoMedics) metabolic analyzer and a Borg's 6-20 scale was used to collect HR, VO2, and RPE of eight female subjects (46.7±5.6 yrs, 163.4±6.2 cm, 66.9±8.2 kg, 25.1±3.7 BMI) after standing for 5 min, walking at 67 m.min−1 and 88.5 m.min−1, each at level grade for 5 min, at maximal exercise (Bruce protocol), and after a 5 min cool-down of walking at 75 m.min−1 on level grade. Participants served as their own controls in this counter balanced design, once with and once without the knee-high graduated compression sock (OxySocks: 18-22 mmHg). RESULTS: RMANOVA revealed no significant differences between the trials in any of the variables, p>.05 (Table 1).Table 1: Physiological and perceptual responses with and without compression socks while walking on a treadmill (N=8)CONCLUSIONS: This study does not provide evidence that compression socks contribute to lower heart rates during submaximal or maximal exercise, or that they enhance maximal oxygen consumption.