OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of domiciliary physical fitness programmes in obese individuals. DESIGN: Nine-month randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Home-based intervention with outpatient visits. SUBJECTS: Morbidly obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) >= 30) aged 25 to 65 years suitable for physical activities at home. INTERVENTION: At the end of a preliminary one-month in-hospital rehabilitation programme (baseline), 52 patients were randomly assigned either to a structured educational programme (intervention group) of daily incremental physical activity at home (walking and skeletal muscle resistance training, with booklets and written instructions) or to a programme of general advice (control group) regarding exercise and long-term fitness. MAIN MEASURES: Both groups were evaluated at baseline and every three months for: (1) time, metabolic equivalents (METs), and heart rate reserve (HRR) during a standardized 2-km walking test (2kmWT); (2) anthropometric measures (body weight, BMI, abdominal and neck circumference); (3) the Polar Fitness Test index (PFTI), and (4) time to exhaustion while sustaining consecutive isoload extensions in the dominant leg (isoload LE). Time during 2kmWT was the study primary outcome. RESULTS: Body weight, BMI and abdominal circumference improved significantly (p < 0.05) over time in the intervention group. The cardiopulmonary fitness variables changed significantly (p < 0.05) over time in both study groups. However, all variables improved in the intervention patients, while some worsened or remained stable in the controls. Thus, the mean group difference in changes was significant (p < 0.05) for 2kmWT time (-77.4 seconds), HRR (11.7%), and PFTI (5.4 points). CONCLUSION: This structured domiciliary fitness programme is feasible and provides sustained anthropometric and physiological benefits in some morbidly obese individuals.

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