There are few specific exercise prescriptions for heterogeneous groups that can be scientifically supported at the moment, but those with most promise appear to be the following:
• long duration, low intensity exercise for pre-menopausal women
• any form of physical activity (high or low intensity) for younger men
• increased resistance training for seniors
• walking is a simple, low cost, moderate intensity activity easily incorporated into lifestyle
• a greater emphasis on dietary change rather than exercise in the initial stages for the obese
• emphasis on small, additive increases in daily physical activity in the obese
• non-weight-bearing exercise (e.g. Aquarobics, cycling) in the initial stages for the very overfat
• increased emphasis on SPA and ‘incidental’ activity with older people
• shorter cumulative bouts of aerobic activity for the unfit.
Hypothesised prescription parameters for some overfat groupings are tentative and are proposed here as a model for further testing. They are likely to provide a more focused approach to prescription, however, than dealing with all cases of overfatness and obesity as homogeneous.
*158\186\4*
