Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 36, Issue 1, January 2003, Pages 17-29
Preventive Medicine

Regular Article
Controlled Comparison of Retention and Adherence in Home- vs Center-Initiated Exercise Interventions in Women Ages 40–65 Years: The S.W.E.A.T. Study (Sedentary Women Exercise Adherence Trial)

https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2002.1134Get rights and content

Abstract

Background. In an 18-month exercise intervention in previously sedentary older women (40–65 years), we examined whether an initial 6 months of supervised exercise leads to greater long-term retention and adherence to regular physical activity than an unsupervised home-based program and whether these outcomes are influenced by the exercise intensity.

Methods. Women (N = 126) were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to either center-based or home-based exercise three times/week. The center-based group attended supervised sessions for 6 months, while after 10 initial sessions the home-based group exercised at home. After 6 months both groups were home-based for a further 12 months. Within each arm, subjects were further randomized to exercise at either moderate or vigorous intensity.

Results. The center-based group had higher retention than the home-based (97, 94, 81 versus 87, 76, and 61%) at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively (P < 0.05). At 6 months, adherence was higher in the center-based group (84 versus 63%, P < 0.001) and energy expenditure was higher at 6 (P < 0.05) and 12 (P < 0.01) months. At 18 months, retention was higher with moderate exercise (P < 0.05), while adherence was similar with both intensities.

Conclusion. An initial 6 months of center-based exercise enhanced retention in both the short and the long term and promoted short-term adherence and energy expenditure. Long-term, moderate exercise retained more subjects, but had little influence on adherence.

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    This study was supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation.

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    To whom reprint requests should be addressed at Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, P.O. Box X2213, GPO Perth, Western Australia 6001, Australia. Fax: 61 (08) 9224 0246. E-mail: [email protected].

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