ABSTRACT
Obesity is a major health problem all around the world. On the other hand, few people, especially women, are physically active to the levels recommended by Healthy People 2010 web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The objective of this study was to compare the potential effects of intermittent and continuous exercise programs combined with concurrent calorie restriction diets on lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in overweight and obese females. Forty-five women with a sedentary life style and a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups [15 subjects in each group]: a] 40 minutes of medium-intensity intermittent exercise [64-76% of maximal heart rate], 3 bouts per day for 5 days a week, b] a single bout of a 40-minute continuous exercise per day for 5 days a week, C] the non-exercising control group. A self-monitored calorie restricted diet was recommended to all participants by a dietitian. The lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure of all participants were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention period. After the intervention, there were no significant differences among the groups in terms of lipid profile [cholesterol [P=0.94], triglyceride [P=0.62]] fasting blood sugar [P=0.054], systolic blood pressure [P=0.84] or diastolic blood pressure [P=0.30]. There seems to be no significant differences between short term continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise programs in improving lipid profile, fasting blood sugar or blood pressure both in overweight and obese women