Background/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of diet-induced weight loss (DWL), circuit training (CT) and diet-induced weight loss combined with CT (DWLCT) on Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in healthy sedentary postmenopausal women.
Method: Forty-three women were randomly assigned to either a DWL (n=16) or CT (n=18) 9 week intervention. DWL participants met with an investigator once per week to be weighed and were given a total weight loss goal of 8-10% of baseline body weight (BW). CT subjects completed a supervised circuit of resistance and aerobic exercise on 3 days per week for 40-45 minutes at a moderate intensity and were asked to remain weight stable (±3 lbs.). Nine participants completed an additional 9 week intervention of combined DWL and CT protocols (DWLCT). All participants had BW, waist circumference (WC), ESS and PQSI measured prior to and at the end of the intervention and had BW measured weekly.
Analysis/Results: Paired t-test results indicated a significant (p=0.46) increase in the ESS (5.7±3.6 to 7.3 ± 4.1) in the DWL group, there were no changes demonstrated in the CT or DWLCT groups for ESS. PSQI was not changed for all groups. BW and BMI decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the DWL and DWLCT groups and no change in the CT group.
Conclusions: The results indicate that an increase in daytime sleepiness that accompanied caloric restriction may be offset by a regimen of CT in healthy postmenopausal women.
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