Walk-Run Transition Speed Training as an Efficient Exercise Adjunct to Dietary Restriction in the Management of Obesity: A Prospective Intervention Pilot Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the utility of preferred walk-run transition speed (WRTS) in exercise training adjunct to dietary restriction for obesity management in healthy obese women. Materials and Methods: 37 obese women (age: 35 +/- 9 years, body mass index (BMI): 34.9 +/- 4.6 kg/m(2)) were assigned to an intervention pilot study during 6 months of restricted diet alone (RD) followed by 6 months of RD combined with WRTS (RD and WRTS) as a training exercise. Body mass, waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), active cell mass (ACM), fasting glucose, serum lipids (triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apo-lipoproteins A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB)], leptin and insulin concentrations, and HOMA-IR were assessed at baseline (T0), at the end of the RD alone (T1), and at the end of the RD and WRTS programme (T2). Results: Mean weight loss was 8.6 +/- 4.9 kg and 2.2 +/- 2.9 kg for (T0-T1) and (T1-T2), respectively. Significant BMI and WC reductions were reported at T1 and T2. FM decreased significantly both with RD and with RD and WRTS training whereas FFM and ACM increased with RD and WRTS training only. TG decreased significantly with the two phases of the programme. A significant increase in HDL-C, and a decrease in LDL-C and TC/ HDL-C ratio were noticed with RD and WRTS training. Heart rate monitored in training improved significantly after RD and WRTS training. A significant relationship (r = 0.542, p < 0.02) was demonstrated between reductions in serum leptin and insulin concentrations observed with both RD and WRTS training. Conclusion: The addition of WRTS training to RD promoted a greater reduction in body mass, WC, FM, leptin and insulin concentrations, improved metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, and enhanced cardiovascular fitness.