OBJECTIVE: We investigated exercise effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and exercise self-efficacy, and tested effect modification by baseline body mass index (BMI) and gender. METHODS: Middle-aged women (n = 100) and men (n = 102) were randomly assigned to either exercise (360 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise) or control in Seattle, WA, from 2001 to 2004. Demographics, anthropometrics, exercise self-efficacy (5-item self-efficacy questionnaire) and HRQOL (SF-36) were assessed at baseline and 12 months. Analysis of covariance adjusting for baseline scores was used to compare HRQOL and exercise self-efficacy scores between the exercise and control groups. RESULTS: At 12months, exercisers demonstrated higher exercise self-efficacy than controls (percent change from baseline -6.5% versus -15.0%, p < 0.01), without differences in HRQOL. Baseline BMI category and gender did not modify these effects. In exploratory analyses comparing exercisers and controls within subgroups defined by gender and BMI, 12-month HRQOL scores (role-physical +7.0% versus -13.1%, vitality +15.6% versus -4.2%, social functioning +10.0% versus -3.5%, and mental health +6.8% versus -2.9%) were higher only among overweight male exercisers (p < 0.05, versus control). CONCLUSION: Three hundred and sixty minutes per week of exercise, recommended for weight maintenance, did not have negative effects on exercise self-efficacy or HRQOL. This level of exercise may increase HRQOL among overweight men. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00668161.
Copyright by Academic Press.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher