Cardiometabolic health improvements in the workplace: the effects of exercise supervision during a 16-week randomised controlled trial

Reviews of workplace physical activity interventions indicate limited effects of these programs on employee health (1) and fitness (2). This randomised controlled trial compared the effectiveness of personal, non-personal and no-exercise supervision in the workplace to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength and body composition. Eighty-five Australian university employees (62 female; mean±SD 43.2±9.8 years) were randomised to either personal (1:1; SUP, N=28) supervision, non-personal (typical gym-based; NPS, N=28) supervision or unsupervised control (CON, N=29) exercise groups. Participants received an individually tailored, moderate-to-high intensity aerobic and resistance exercise program to complete for 16 weeks at an onsite gymnasium (SUP and NPS) or without access to a specific exercise facility (CON). Changes to CRF (V̇O2 peak), muscular strength (1RM bench and leg press) and body composition (body fat % measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Mean changes to CRF were greater (p<0.01) with SUP (+10.4±11.1%) compared to CON (+3.8±8.9%), but not different to NPS (+8.6±8.2%). When compared to CON (+1.7±7.7%), mean upper body strength changes were significantly greater with both SUP (+12.8±8.4%; p<0.001) and NPS (+8.4±7.3%; p<0.05). Mean lower body strength changes were greater with SUP (+26.3±12.7%) compared to both NPS (+15.0 ± 14.6%; p<0.05) and CON (+4.1 ± 12.4%; p<0.001), and NPS compared to CON (p<0.01). Mean reductions to body fat percentage were greater with SUP (-2.2±2.2%) compared to both NPS (-0.6±1.9%; p<0.05) and CON (-0.7±1.9%; p<0.05). Provision of an onsite exercise facility enables increased CRF over a 16-week intervention. Personal exercise supervision, in addition to an onsite exercise facility, produced greater improvements to muscular strength and body composition than simply providing an exercise facility and/or an individually tailored exercise program. To improve cardiometabolic health in a university workplace, employers should consider providing at least 16-weeks of supervised exercise training at an onsite facility. Keywords: workplace, exercise supervision, aerobic training, resistance training, metabolic health