OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of structured versus non-structured internet-delivered exercise recommendations on aerobic exercise capacity and cardiovascular risk profile in overweight sedentary employees. METHODS: 140 employees of an automobile company (11% female, median age 48 years (range 25 to 60), BMI 29.0 kg/m2 (25.0 to 34.8)) were randomized in a 3:2 ratio to an intervention group receiving structured exercise schedules or a control group choosing workouts individually via an interactive website. The 12-week intervention took place in Munich, Germany, during summer 2008. Main outcome measure was performance at the lactate anaerobic threshold (PAT/kg) during ergometry. RESULTS: 77 participants completed the study. The intervention group (n = 50) improved significantly in PAT/kg (mean (SD) 1.68 (0.31) versus 1.81 (0.33) W/kg; p = 0.002), VO2peak (3.21 (0.63) versus 3.35 (0.74) L/min; p = 0.04), and waist circumference (100.5 (7.9) versus 98.0 (7.8) cm; p = 0.001). The control group (n = 27) improved significantly in PAT/kg (1.59 (0.38) versus 1.80 (0.49); p < 0.001) and waist circumference (101.9 (8.7) versus 98.3 (8.5) cm; p < 0.001), but not in VO2peak. No significant between group differences in these outcome measures were noted. CONCLUSION: Structured, internet-delivered exercise recommendations are not superior to internet-delivered non-structured exercise recommendations in a workplace setting. Both lifestyle intervention strategies are, however, limited by high dropout rates.
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