Effects of a 12-week Minimum Program for Preventive Medical Purposes

Current study aimed to investigate the effects of a minimal training program combined with a nutritional intervention, an introductory health seminar and an individual health coaching on parameters for cardiovascular health in adult office workers.

Methods: 49 healthy male and female subjects were recruited from a cohort of office workers and performed a 12-weeks intervention program. The program included a lecture about the health consequence of a lack of movement. Exercise training was performed home based and included two times per week endurance and two times per week strength training for a duration of totally 80 minutes. Nutrition intervention encompassed eating a more Mediterranean style and the record of calorie consumption. Subjects were continuously supervised and motivated online. Body weight, body composition, and metabolic parameters including blood lipid profile were measured before and after intervention.

Results: During the intervention a weight loss (5.7±13.6 kg, p<0.01), a reduction of body mass index (BMI) (from 27.5±3.7 to 25.8±3.3 kg/m², p<0.05), a reduction of overall cholesterol levels (from 205.8±29.8 to 192.7±29.1 mg/dl; p<0.01), a decrease of low density lipoprotein (LDL) (from 124.0±29.0 to 113.3±24.6 mg/dl, p<0.01), a decrease of triglyceride levels (from 144.2±74.5 to 123.0±69.1 mg/dl, p<0.01) and a reduction of uric acid levels (from 6.4±1.1 to 5.5±1.1 mg/dl, p<0.01) occurred.

Conclusion: A moderate adjustment of personal lifestyle within a 12 week prevention program is effective in improving various risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The knowledge about the minimum time requirements might help to overcome a central barrier of being active.