| Learning Objective #1: Identify relations between the level of HQoL and the actual level of exercise-energy expenditure in women who expend above 4.0 kcal/kg/day | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss the significance of subjective response measurement of exercise effects in middle-age women who maintain a relatively high health status |
Objective: In order to prevent lifestyle related disease, an exercise energy expenditure(EEE) of 4 to 5 kcal/kg/day has been recommended for women in Japan. This recommendation, however, has not been evaluated in relation to health-related QOL (HQoL). The present study aims to identify relations between the level of HQoL and the actual level of EEE in women who expend both above and below it. Design: Utilizing data of a 12-week exercise intervention study, a descriptive comparative study. Sample: The subjects were 49 female nurses, age 32-57 (mean:41.5). All subjects were tenured, full-time management level nurses who had worked in their positions for more than two years. Variables: Throughout the intervention study (in control and intervention groups), EEE was measured by a microelectronic pedometer. The subjects' HQoL was then measured by the SF-36, consisting of eight subcategories. A higher score indicates a higher HQoL. The research question of this analysis was, "Does an EEE of above 4.0 kcal/kg/day positively correlate with mental health, bodily pain, vitality and general health in HQoL?" Methods: Subjects from the intervention study were combined and reassigned into either a group with above 4.0 kcal/kg/day (n=30) or a group below 3.9 (n=19). (Before doing so, however, no statistically significant differences of HQoL between the two groups in the intervention study had been confirmed.) Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied for analysis using the SPSS. Findings: The mean EEE in women with above 4.0 kcal/kg/day positively correlated with the score of mental health, bodily pain and vitality (r = 0.4, 0.5, and 0.4, respectively). The mean EEE in women who fell below 3.9 showed no correlation with those subcategories. Conclusions: EEE above 4.0 kcal/kg/day indicated a positive correlation with bodily pain. Implications: Exercise with above 4.0 kcal/kg/day should be evaluated in relation to HQoL for safe practice.
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