Effects of long versus short bout exercise on fitness and weight loss in overweight females.

Objective: The specific aim of this study was to determine if three 10 minute bouts of exercise per day (3 x 10) and two 15 minute bouts per day (2 x 15) were as effective as one 30 minute bout per day (1 x 30) for improving VO2 max and weight loss.

Methods: Overweight, female college students (body mass index > or = 28 kg/m2) were recruited and assessed at baseline and post-treatment for aerobic fitness (Astrand maximal cycle test), weight, skinfold thickness (7-site), and circumference measures (4-site). Following measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE), subjects were asked to follow a self-monitored calorie restricted diet (80% of REE) for the twelve week duration of the study and were assigned (non-random) to one of four treatment groups: 1) a nonexercising control group (control, n = 8), 2) a 30 minutes continuous exercise group (1 x 30, n = 12), 3) a 30 minutes accumulated exercise group (2 x 15, n = 10) and 4) a second 30 minutes accumulated exercise group (3 x 10, n = 8).