Clinical trial NCT02020239: The Effect of Physical Activity Intervention Flexibility on the Time Course of Changes in Body Composition and Metabolism
Official title: The Effect of Physical Activity Intervention Flexibility on the Time Course of Changes in Body Composition and Metabolism
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sedentary
Overweight
Keywords: physical activity
females
body composition
Lead sponsor: University of Birmingham
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Cereal Partners Worldwide
First posted: 2013-12-24
Enrollment: 60
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 25
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The investigators goal is to optimise physical activity interventions to help previously inactive women improve their body shape and composition. Many people seeking to lose weight or improve body composition initiate an exercise programme. The most common recommendation of an exercise intervention for someone attempting to manage their weight, has been to 'prescribe' the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week (World Health Organisation), often using one mode of exercise. An alternative approach might be to offer a portfolio of activities, from which the exerciser can pick and choose, to facilitate greater amounts of physical activity. The problem with this is how do you account for the different intensities of walking, washing the car, playing badminton, cycling, jogging, etc? In this study, the investigators will try to overcome this barrier by allocating a number of "physical activity points" to each activity. Using this physical activity points system, participants will be provided with a points target that they can meet using any combination of activities.

The investigators research aim is therefore to compare this points-based system against the traditional 5x30minute prescription (and sedentary control) for their ability to help previously inactive women to drop a dress size, increase fat burning, positively change their body composition and tone their tummy.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Female
* Aged 25-50 years old
* Inactive (less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week)
* BMI 25-35 kg/m2
* Good general health, as assessed by the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences' General Health Questionnaire
* Willing to strictly comply with all study procedures and restrictions
* Willing to participate, as demonstrated by voluntary written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Positive result from the urine sample pregnancy test
* Currently breast feeding
* Currently participating in another clinical trial deemed to potentially interfere with this study
* Current or recent (within the last 30 days) smoker
* Currently taking prescription or non-prescription medication that may interfere with metabolism (including beta-blockers, insulin, bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory agents, thyroxine and medication/supplements that in the opinion of the investigators may affect metabolism).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in body composition (fat and fat-free mass in kg)
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Perceived body shape
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
measure: Maximal aerobic capacity
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Fat oxidation rates
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks
measure: Body tone
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Other outcomes:
measure: Blood-borne markers of metabolic health
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Psychological measures relating to perceived body image
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Psychological measures of attitudes towards exercise and physical activity
timeFrame: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Locations:
city: Birmingham
country: United Kingdom
facility: University of Birmingham, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Study officials:
References:
citation: Holliday A, Burgin A, Fernandez EV, Fenton SAM, Thielecke F, Blannin AK. Points-based physical activity: a novel approach to facilitate changes in body composition in inactive women with overweight and obesity. BMC Public Health. 2018 Feb 17;18(1):261. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5125-2.