Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(1): 53-58
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965111
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Long-Term Aerobic Exercise on EPOC

J. D. LeCheminant1 , D. J. Jacobsen2 , B. W. Bailey3 , M. S. Mayo4 , J. O. Hill5 , B. K. Smith2 , J. E. Donnelly2
  • 1Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois, United States
  • 2Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States
  • 3Department of Exercise and Health Science, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • 4Center for Biostatistics and Advanced Informatics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States
  • 5Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision December 15, 2006

Publication Date:
18 September 2007 (online)

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Abstract

This study sought to determine the influence of 16 months of progressive aerobic exercise on excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and the extent EPOC contributed to weight management. Twenty-five overweight/obese women and 16 overweight/obese men participated in a 16-month exercise program (moderate-intensity treadmill walking) that progressed across the first 26 weeks to 5 days · wk-1, 45 min · session-1, and 75 % HRR. Three-hour EPOC was measured at baseline, 9 months, and 16 months by indirect calorimetry in response to an exercise session (treadmill walking), in which energy expenditure (EE) was estimated from the participant's previous 10 exercise sessions. For women, EPOC was 7.5 ± 4.9, 9.6 ± 7.6, and 6.5 ± 6.5 L at baseline, 9 months, and 16 months, respectively (p > 0.05). For men, EPOC increased from baseline (11.8 ± 6.8 L) to 9 months (13.5 ± 8.6 L) (p < 0.05) with no further increase at 16 months (13.5 ± 11.0 L). Change in EPOC was correlated with change in EE at 9 months (r = 0.65; p < 0.05) and 16 months (r = 0.58; p < 0.05) for men but not women. Progressive long-term exercise significantly influenced EPOC in overweight/obese men but not women. Change in volume of exercise likely explained the increase in energy expenditure during EPOC in men. EPOC contributed modestly to EE compared to the exercise itself.