Abstract:
Objectives We compared effects of shorter moderate-
intensity exercise time (<10 min bouts) on cardiometabolic
parameters with the current recommendations among
elderly adults.
Methods Fifty-three sedentary individuals aged ≥50
years were divided into exercise groups 1 : male and 2
female short-duration bouts (M S and F S , respectively),
and 3 male and 4 female long-duration bouts (M L and
F L , respectively). Short-duration bouts consisted three
5–10 min moderate-intensity jogging sessions daily, and
long-duration bouts consisted 30–60 min sessions 3–5
days weekly. Cumulative exercise times were equivalent.
Physical activity (PA) was measured by log and activity
monitors. Fasting venous blood at baseline and 8 weekly
intervals was used for blood chemistry.
Results After 24 weeks, M S and F S with total cholesterol
(TC) of >5.2 mmol/L and >5.3 mmol/L decreased from
22.2% to 14.8% and from 30.9% to 11.5%, respectively.
For M L , this decreased from 25.9% to 3.7%, while F L had
0% change. In M S and M L , TC/high-density lipoproteins
(HDLs) of >5.0 mmol/L dropped from 22.2% to 7.4%
and from 22.2% to 15.4%, respectively. In F S and F L , TC/
HDL of >4.5 mmol/L declined from 19.2% to 7.7% and
from 19.2% to 3.8%, respectively. M S and M L with fasting
blood glucose of ≥5.5 mmol/L declined from 40.7% to
11.1% and from 33.3% to 3.7%, respectively. Similarly,
it declined from 46.2% to 0% and 42.3% to 11.5% for
F S and F L , respectively. There were no differences in the
changes between regimes throughout the study.
Conclusion Bouts lasting <10 min per session
are as good as those lasting ;≥30 min in improving
cardiometabolic profiles of sedentary adults aged ≥50
years.
