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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05426070

Preliminary Efficacy of a Strength Training Intervention on Exercise Adherence and Weight Among Pre-Menopausal Women

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a strength training-based intervention on exercise adherence among low active (defined as engaging in physical activity 90 minutes or less per week), pre-menopausal women ages 40-50, along with the effect on weight and various psychosocial measures. Participants will be randomly assigned to a strength training-based intervention or a wait-list control each lasting three months (participants in the no contact, wait-list control condition will have the option of receiving the strength training-based intervention following the three months).

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Inactivity Behavior Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sedentary Behavior Signs and Symptoms

Age range

40 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

About this study

Participants will be randomly assigned to a strength training-based exercise intervention or a no contact, wait-list control each lasting three months (participants in the no contact, wait-list control will have the option of receiving the strength training-based intervention following the three months). The strength training-based exercise intervention will be delivered via group-based Zoom sessions, motivational email messages, and a website. Participants will take part in two group-based Zoom exercise sessions (40-minute exercise sessions and 20 minutes of motivational counseling) and two individual exercise sessions per week for six months. Exercise sessions will include a combination of various aerobic (e.g., jogging in place, high knees) and muscle strengthening exercises (e.g., burpees, push-ups, lunges, body weight squats) designed to keep heart rate in the 60-85% range of maximum heart rate. Participants will choose from a variety of options for their two individual sessions (e.g., online exercise video, jogging or walking outside, prescribed exercise session listed on the website, or any other exercise) and modifications for each exercise will be made depending on the participant's ability and current fitness and strength level (e.g., wall push-ups vs. knee push-ups vs. regular push-ups). Participants will be instructed to stop exercising if problems occur and will receive training and handouts on how to recognize problems such as angina and myocardial infarction symptoms.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and habit formation theory will guide the content of the counseling portion of the Zoom sessions and the motivational features of the study website and text messages. Motivational counseling will be focused on increasing motivation to exercise and habit formation. The goal is to achieve integrated regulation and therefore, the health counselor will focus on positive affective response to exercise sessions and discuss how being physically active is becoming part of their self-identity. The goal will be high intrinsic motivation (i.e., individuals engage in exercise due to inherent pleasure) since it is related to higher levels of exercise. Strength training-based participants will also receive access to a mobile phone-friendly study website and will receive emails. Both the website and email messages will contain motivational content to complete the exercise sessions. The motivational website will also include an online log to track completion of home-based sessions and options for individual-based exercise sessions.. Assessment of exercise adherence, weight, and psychosocial variables will occur at baseline and three months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 1) pre-menopausal women ages 40-50 years; (2) engaging in 90 minutes or less of exercise per week; (3) no exercise contraindications; (4) adequate space at home to complete exercise sessions and capacity to use Zoom via a mobile device or computer; (5) available to attend two zoom-based sessions a week; (6) be able to read, understand, and speak in the English language (7) willing to be randomly assigned to either study condition (8) access to iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later

Exclusion criteria

  • Specific exclusion criteria will include a history of coronary heart disease (history of myocardial infarction, symptoms of angina), orthopedic problems that would limit physical activity participation, diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, and any other medical condition that may make physical activity unsafe or unwise. Other exclusion criteria will include current or planned pregnancy, psychosis or current suicidal ideation, and psychiatric hospitalization within the last six months.

Treatment and study plan

Strength training-based exercise

Behavioral

Participants will take part in two group-based Zoom exercise sessions and two individual exercise sessions per week for three months. Exercise sessions will include a combination of various aerobic (e.g., jogging in place, high knees) and muscle strengthening exercises (e.g., burpees, push-ups, lunges, body weight squats) designed to keep heart rate in the 60-85% range of maximum heart rate. Participants will choose from a variety of options for their two individual sessions (e.g., online exercise video, jogging or walking outside, prescribed exercise session listed on the website, or any other exercise) and modifications for each exercise will be made depending on the participant's ability and current fitness and strength level. Participants will be instructed to stop exercising if problems occur and will receive training and handouts on how to recognize problems such as angina and myocardial infarction.

Primary outcomes

  1. Exercise Adherence

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    Apple Watch

Secondary outcomes

  1. Weight

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    Withings Smart Scale

Other outcomes

  1. Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) is an 18 item scale that assesses enjoyment for physical activity by asking participants to rate "how you feel at the moment about the physical activity you have been doing" using a 7-point bipolar Likert scale from 1 (I enjoy it) to 7 (I hate it). Higher scores indicate higher enjoyment with range of 18-126 being possible.

  2. Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2)

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2) is a 19-item questionnaire that includes five subscales (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, external regulation, and amotivation. This scale is on a 5 point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not true for me) to 4 (very true for me). The minimum score is -24 and the maximum score is +20. Higher positive scores indicate more autonomous motivation whereas lower negative scores indicate less autonomous motivation.

  3. Motives for Physical Activity Measure- Revised (MPAM-R)

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; the Motives for Physical Activity Measure- Revised (MPAM-R) is a 30-item scale that examines five motives for physical activity participation including enjoyment/interest, competence/challenge, social interaction, appearance, and fitness. Composed of 30 items, 7-point Likert scale with 1= not at all true for me to 7= very true for me. Maximum score=210; minimum score=30. Higher score=higher motivation.

  4. Physical Activity Self-Efficacy

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; physical activity self-efficacy measuring how confident of exercise. 5 items. 5-point Likert scale with 1=not at all confident to 5= extremely confident. Maximum value of 25, minimum value of 5 with higher scores indicating higher level of self-efficacy

  5. Outcome Expectations or Exercise

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; Outcome Expectations for Exercise measures the degree to which individuals agree to statements regarding benefits of exercise. 9 items. 5-point Likert scale with 1= strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. Maximum value= 45; minimum value= 9 with higher score indicating higher outcome expectations related to exercise.

  6. Social Support for Physical Activity

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; Social Support for Physical Activity measures perceived social support based on two subscales; family and friends. 13 items. 5-point Likert scale with 0=none and 4=very often. Maximum score= 52; minimum score=0. Higher levels indicate higher level of perceived social support for physical activity.

  7. Exercise Feeling Inventory Survey

    Time frame: from date of randomization until the date of three month assessment; up to three months

    questionnaire; Exercise Feeling Inventory Survey (EFI) measures feeling states that occur during acute PA bouts. Four feeling states are assessed including revitalization, positive engagement, physical exhaustion, and tranquility. 12 items. 5-point Likert scale; 0= do not feel and 4=feel very strongly. Maximum Score= 48; minimum score=0. Higher score= higher feeling.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Minnesota

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 21, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 8, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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