OBJECTIVES: The effect of national exercise recommendations on adiposity is unknown and may differ by sex. We examined long-term effects of aerobic exercise on adiposity in women and men. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a 12-month randomized, controlled clinical trial testing exercise effect on weight and body composition in men (N = 102) and women (N = 100). Sedentary/unfit persons, 40 to 75 years old, were recruited through physician practices and media. The intervention was facility- and home-based moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activity, 60 min/d, 6 days/wk versus controls (no intervention). RESULTS: Exercisers exercised a mean 370 min/wk (men) and 295 min/wk (women), and seven dropped the intervention. Exercisers lost weight (women -1.4 versus +0.7 kg in controls, p = 0.008; men -1.8 versus -0.1 kg in controls, p = 0.03), BMI (women -0.6 versus +0.3 kg/m2 in controls, p = 0.006; men -0.5 kg/m2 versus no change in controls, p = 0.03), waist circumference (women -1.4 versus +2.2 cm in controls, p < 0.001; men -3.3 versus -0.4 cm in controls, p = 0.003), and total fat mass (women -1.9 versus +0.2 kg in controls, p = 0.001; men -3.0 versus +0.2 kg in controls, p < 0.001). Exercisers with greater increases in pedometer-measured steps per day had greater decreases in weight, BMI, body fat, and intra-abdominal fat (all p trend < 0.05 in both men and women). Similar trends were observed for increased minutes per day of exercise and for increases in maximal oxygen consumption. DISCUSSION: These data support the US Department of Agriculture and Institute of Medicine guidelines of 60 min/d of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

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