Research participants who SWEAT together stay together
This has certainly proved true for the participants of Associate Professor Kay Cox’s Sedentary Women Exercise Adherence Trial (SWEAT), who reunited to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the study’s launch.
A/Prof Cox, from The University of Western Australia’s Medical School, commenced the SWEAT project at RPH Research Foundation in 2000 to assess the health benefits of exercise in older women who weren't currently exercising.
A group of women in their 50s were recruited for the study and divided into two groups: swimmers and walkers.
Each group exercised for between 40 to 60 minutes (four times a week) and measured the effects it had on their body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin and glucose.
Health benefits were recorded for both groups of women, with the swimmers scooping the pool in terms of overall positive outcomes.
According to A/Prof. Cox: “Women in their fifties who have reached menopause or who are peri-menopausal may also have other health ailments starting to be a nuisance, including joint stiffness and arthritis. The swimming group found that being in the water increased their overall flexibility and they were also able to enjoy exercising in a non-weight-bearing environment that was more difficult for some in the walking group.”
Adherence to the program was found to be higher in the swimmers group, probably for this reason. In addition, swimming was found to reduce waist girth by more than an inch compared to the walkers as well as improving insulin levels (thereby reducing the risk of diabetes) and lowering cholesterol levels.
The friendly rivalry between the swimmers and walkers cemented a friendship that’s lasted two decades and seen the ladies clock up even more quality exercise time together.
It’s a heartening story, especially when you consider sedentary behaviour increases with age and is a major risk factor for disorders such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
“The resulting greater prevalence of disorders associated with inactivity makes initiation and maintenance of physical activity in older adults a priority,” A/Prof Cox says.
The anniversary of this extraordinary journey was even featured on Channel 9 news. The segment can be watched here.
