Response Variability to Exercise

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Low amount, low intensity exercise: Participants will exercise under supervision. Exercise dose will vary by amount and intensity

Low amount, high intensity exercise: Participants will exercise under supervision. Exercise dose will vary by amount and intensity

High amount, high intensity exercise: Participants will exercise under supervision. Exercise dose will vary by amount and intensity

Study summary

In this proposal, the investigators challenge the assumption that following the physical activity guidelines implies benefit for ALL adults, and that if benefit is not achieved in response to first line therapy, it will be by simply exercising more. Thus, for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk factors, unanswered questions include: 1) To what extent, regardless of increasing exercise intensity or amount, is exercise not associated with benefit? Demonstration of a resistance to benefit through exercise in a substantial number of adults would be a novel and important finding, would counter the assumptions of many if not most health care practitioners, and could have immediate and direct application in all health care settings. 2) To what extent will non-responders to first line therapy (150 min/wk) be required to increase exercise intensity or amount to achieve benefit? 3) To what extent will failure to improve CRF segregate (be associate with) with cardiometabolic risk factors? The investigators propose that adults who remain exercise resistant for improvement in CRF and cardiometabolic risk despite increasing amount or intensity are at high risk of metabolic disease and consequently, are candidates for alternative treatment strategies.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Cardiorespiratory Fitness — Measured at baseline and every 4 weeks for 32 weeks.
  Cardiorespiratory fitness will be determined using direct (open circuit spirometry) measures of oxygen consumption (expressed in L/min) obtained during a maximal treadmill test.

Trial sites (1)

Other trials for the same condition