Effects of Accumulated Short Bouts of Exercise on Weight and Obesity Indices in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To compile and quantify the effectiveness of accumulated short-bout exercise interventions on reducing the obesity indices in adults using meta-analysis. Data Source: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and SportDiscus. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: (1) Description of a short-bout exercise trial (<30 minutes); (2) obesity indices must be measured pre- and postintervention; and (3) only adults and published in English. Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies included. Of 3257 articles retrieved, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Based on the Downs and Black checklist, the methodological quality of the included studies was fairly robust. Data Synthesis: Pooled effect sizes (ESs) were calculated using a random effects model. Results: Average intervention length was approximately 16 weeks (ranged from 4 to 72 weeks). All weighted mean ES values for each obesity index measure were non-negative, ranging from small to large (ES = 0.33-0.96) in magnitude. Weighted mean ES for body mass (BM; n = 18; ES = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.22-0.80), body mass index (BMI; n = 13; ES = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.24-0.97), waist circumference (n = 9; ES = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.15-0.73), body fat percentage (BF%; n = 8; ES = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.09-0.58), skinfold (n = 7; ES = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.39 -1.53), and fat mass (FM; n = 6; ES = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.21-0.90) were statistically significant. Moderator effects of intervention length (weeks) were observed for BM (Qbetween [Cochran’s Q: a measure of heterogeneity between studies] = 6.83, P < .05); BMI (Qbetween = 13.93, P < .05); and FM (Qbetween = 10.41, P < .05). Intervention length >10 weeks was more effective than shorter (≤10) intervention period for reducing BM, BMI, and FM. Conclusion: Accumulated short bouts of exercise have a beneficial effect on reducing the obesity indices among adults. The current study can help health researchers and practitioners in designing their intervention programs, which can be applied within schools, clinics, and communities.

Obesity and Endothelial Function

“…Exercise has many favorable effects on cardiovascular risk factors. The favorable effects include decreases in body mass index, blood pressure, and abdominal obesity and improvement in insulin sensitivity, liver function, lipid parameters, and inflammation [ 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 ]. A recent meta-analysis has shown that exercise has positive effects on body weight (mean weight loss ranging from 1.5 kg to 3.5 kg) and body fat (mean fat loss ranging from 1.3 kg to 2.6 kg) compared with a non-exercise control group in adults with overweight and obesity [ 125 ].…”

Effect of Home Exercise Training in Patients with Nonspecific Low-Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…If multiple short bouts of moderate-intensity physical exercise produce significant training effects [53], learning to integrate physical activity into daily life can become a main goal in the treatment of LBP. Moreover, home-based exercise also improves other comorbidities, such as knee osteoarthritis [54], obesity [55], depression [56], gait speed in people with Parkinson's disease [57], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [58] and reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality [59].…”

Effect of fixed 7.5 minutes’ moderate intensity exercise bouts on body composition and blood pressure among sedentary adults with prehypertension in Western-Kenya

“…We previously observed positive changes in body composition from the same setting on healthy-sedentary individuals by use of comparable exercise regimes [31]. Elsewhere, similar follow-up periods for accumulated shorter bouts of exercise have yielded favourable body compositions [43,44], although they were not specific for individuals with prehypertension.…”