Obesity Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Obesity, including details on health, diet, prevention, exercise.

Usefulness of a home-based exercise program for overweight and obese patients with advanced heart failure.

Evangelista LS, Doering LV, Lennie T, Moser DK, Hamilton MA, Fonarow GC, Dracup K

School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. levangel@ucla.edu

Exercise is an important behavior for long-term weight control in overweight and obese patients. However, little evidence exists confirming such findings in patients with advanced heart failure (HF). Using a prospective, experimental design, the effects of 24 weeks of a low-level, home-based walking program on weight loss were studied in overweight and obese (body mass index > or =27 kg/m(2)) patients with advanced HF who were randomized to exercise (n = 48) and control (n = 51) groups. Weight changes between the 2 groups at baseline and 6 months were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Patients were on average aged 53.3 +/- 10.1 years and predominantly male (75%), Caucasian (57%), and married (55%). Most patients were in New York Heart Association class III or IV (67%), with a mean ejection fraction of 25%. Patients in the exercise group showed significant weight reduction from baseline to 6 months compared with those in the control group (-6.37 +/- 11.7 vs -0.33 +/- 9.3 kg, p = 0.002). No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups in 6-minute walk distance or depression, although the changes were in the anticipated direction. Modest weight losses of >5% were associated with cardiopulmonary exercise test-documented workload levels at 6 months (r = 0.331, p = 0.006), as well as decreased depression (r = -0.315, p = 0.01) and hostility (r = -0.355, p = 0.005). The number of hospital admissions was significantly smaller for patients in the exercise group compared with those in the control group (0.63 +/- 0.94 vs 1.07 +/- 0.95, p <0.05). In conclusion, the findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of a low-level, home-based walking program on weight loss in overweight and obese patients with advanced HF.

Published 6 March 2006 in Am J Cardiol, 97(6): 886-90.
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