To investigate the effects of different amounts of exercise on both cardiorespiratory fitness and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in sedentary, overweight, mildly hypertensive, but healthy, postmenopausal women aged 45 to 75 years.

DESIGN NARRATIVE: A total of 450 sedentary, postmenopausal women at moderate risk for cardiovascular disease will be randomly assigned to receive exercise training at one of three doses (4, 8, or 12 kcal/kg/wk) or no exercise for six months duration. The specific aims will be to determine: (a) if women in the exercise groups have increased aerobic power (VO2max) over the six months compared to the no exercise group; (b) if women in the exercise groups have a greater reduction in resting systolic blood pressure than those in the no exercise group; and, (c) if there will be a dose-response gradient across the three exercise groups for changes in aerobic power and systolic blood pressure. Secondary aims include evaluating the effects of exercise dose on fasting blood lipids and lipoproteins, glucose, insulin, anthropometry, self-reported quality of life, and cardiovascular risk as determined by a multiple logistic risk function. Covariates to be controlled will include dietary intake, physical activity (outside of the exercise program), smoking, alcohol intake, sleep habits, medication use (including hormone replacement therapy), demographics, menstrual history, personal and family medical history.

Ages Eligible for Study:  45 Years   -   75 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Female

Criteria