Active Commuting To Improve Well-being and Health in Everyday Life

Active Commuting To Improve Well-being and Health in Everyday Life

The aim of present randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the health effects of physical activity in transport and leisure time domains of everyday life and to develop durable physical activity regimens, i.e. to go from lifestyle intervention to daily lifestyle routine, in overweight individuals.

Subjects will be randomized to 1 of 4 groups. 1: Vigorous intensity leisure time physical activity, 2: Moderate intensity leisure time activity, 3: Active commuting by bicycle, or 4: a non-intervention control group

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• No engagement in habitual structured physical activity
• Body mass index 25-35 kg/m2
• Body fat percentage >32% for women and >25% for men
• Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) <40 ml O2/kg/min for women and <45 ml O2/kg/min for men
• Ethnicity: Caucasian

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic use of medicine
• Smoking
• Fasting plasma glucose > 6,1 mmol/L
• Blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg
• Abnormal resting and working ECG
• Parents or siblings with diagnosed type 2 diabetes
• For women: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration > 35 milliunits/ml, pregnancy or planning of pregnancy within the coming year