Beneficial effects of individualized physical activity on prescription on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors: results from a randomized controlled trial

Background Insufficient physical activity (PA), overweight and abdominal obesity are increasing global public health problems. Design Randomized controlled 6-month intervention study. Methods One hundred and one 68-year-old individuals (57% female) with low PA, overweight (BMI 25-40kg/m(2)) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 88 cm in women and > 102 cm in men), were randomized to PA on prescription (PAP) or a minimal intervention. PA measured by several methods, anthropometric parameters, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors were measured at baseline and after intervention. Results Favourable changes in anthropometrics, body composition, S-glucose, glycosolated haernoglobin (HbA1c), blood lipids and apolipoproteins were seen in the PAP group. In the control group, however, some positive changes were also noted. Bodyweight, neck circumference, fat mass, S-cholesterol and HbA1c decreased significantly more in the PAP group. Conclusion Individualized PAP improves body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in sedentary older overweight individuals. PAP might be useful in clinical practice to counteract the epidemic of sedentary lifestyle and concomitant cardiometabolic disorders. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 16:80-84 (C) 2009 The European Society of Cardiology