Affect-regulated exercise: an alternative approach for lifestyle modification in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity

Introduction

Self-selection of aerobic training intensity is an approach that allows practitioners to develop autonomy (choice of pace), improve physical fitness, and contribute to better affective responses and training adherence. However, it is still unclear whether self-selection of training intensity in group settings is comparable to individual training conditions. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of three aerobic training protocols on psychophysiological responses in physically inactive adult obese women.

Methods

The sample consisted of 90 women with a mean age of 48.3 ± 5.5 years and BMI of 31.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2, who participated in three treadmill aerobic training protocols: 1- Control group (IPI) with individually prescribed intensity (64 to 76% of HRmax), 2- Small group (SGS) with self-selected intensity, and 3- Individual with self-selected intensity (ISS). Heart rate (HR), total session volume (VL), affective valence was determined by feeling scale (FS), enjoyment was determined by Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), intention to repeat the exercise session (INT), and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale (BPNFS) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA for HR and FS, and one-way ANOVA for VL, PACES, INT, and BPNFS with Tukey post hoc test and significance criteria (p < 0.05).

Results

The results showed that HR and VL were similar (p > 0.05) between the protocols IPI, SGS and ISS, while FS, PACES, and INT were significantly higher in SGS and ISS than IPI protocols (p < 0.05). BPNFS also presented better results for the SGS and ISS protocols (p < 0.05).

Discussion

These findings suggest that the intensity and training volume were similar among different protocols. Affective responses were more positive perceived in SGS and ISS protocols.

Conclusion

We conclude that intensity self-selection is a safe, effective, and comparable strategy to prescribed intensity at moderate levels, providing a more enjoyable experience that may contribute to greater adherence to aerobic training.

Individualized pleasure-oriented exercise sessions, exercise frequency, and affective outcomes: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Affective responses are increasingly recognized as potentially effective intervention targets that may facilitate exercise and physical activity behavior change. While emerging correlational evidence suggests that more pleasant affective responses are associated with higher participation and adherence, experimental evidence remains scarce. In light of this, we conducted a preregistered, pragmatic, single-blinded, superiority randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups, with the goal of determining the impact of an individualized exercise-intensity prescription targeting pleasure on exercise frequency.

METHODS

Forty-seven non-regular exercisers were randomized into two groups. For both groups, the intervention consisted of three exercise sessions based on the Frequency-Intensity-Time-Type (FITT) principle. However, the experimental group also received an individualized intensity prescription based on prior assessment of preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity, as well as instructions emphasizing the promotion of pleasure as a basis for self-regulating exercise intensity. The primary outcome was gymnasium attendance over an eight-week follow-up period. Secondary outcomes were affective valence and arousal, post-exercise enjoyment, core affective exercise experiences, and anticipated and remembered affect.

RESULTS

Forty-six participants were retained for analysis (Mage = 32.00; SD = 8.62 years; 56.5% female). Compared to the control group, the experimental group exhibited 77% higher session attendance (14.35 vs. 8.13 sessions) over the eight-week follow-up period (group main effect p = .018, η2p = .120; Cohen's d ranged from 0.28 to 0.91 during follow-up). Also, the experimental group reported higher levels of pleasure during the intervention sessions (for all group main effects, p < .001, η2p from .33 to .37) and higher levels of remembered pleasure (group main effect p = .021, η2p = .116) and anticipated pleasure (group main effect p = .022, η2p = .114). No harm was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of an intervention aimed at enhancing affective responses to exercise in improving short-term session attendance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov NCT05416593.

Exploring the impact of individualized pleasure-oriented exercise sessions in a health club setting: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Research on the relationship between exercise-induced affect and exercise or physical activity behavior has gained momentum in recent years, yielding several observational and longitudinal studies. However, experimental tests demonstrating a causal role of affective responses on exercise adherence are lacking. Given the need to devise exercise prescriptions that can facilitate adherence and promote regular physical activity, a Randomized Controlled Trial targeting individual pleasurable responses in a health-club setting will be conducted. The experimental protocol will compare two individualized evaluation, prescription, and supervision methods, adjusted for intensity, with the aim to explore their impact on behavioral, affective, and motivational outcomes. The planned study will be a pragmatic randomized, single-blinded, controlled superiority trial with two parallel groups and an allocation ratio of 1:1. Apparently healthy volunteer participants (N = 46) between 18 and 45 years old, who are not regularly active, will be randomly allocated to a control or experimental group. The control group will follow a general American College of Sports Medicine exercise prescription; the experimental group will follow the same prescription but with enhancements aimed at promoting pleasure: (1) individualization based on individual differences in preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity; (2) self-regulation of intensity; and (3) repeated assessments of core affect. The primary outcome will be post-intervention exercise-session attendance. Affective and motivational variables will be examined as secondary outcomes. The results are expected to advance exercise prescriptions by promoting affective regulation, thus helping to improve exercise adherence and related outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT05416593.

Affective Determinants of Physical Activity: A Conceptual Framework and Narrative Review

The literature on affective determinants of physical activity (PA) is growing rapidly. The present paper aims to provide greater clarity regarding the definition and distinctions among the various affect-related constructs that have been examined in relation to PA. Affective constructs are organized according to the Affect and Health Behavior Framework (AHBF), including: (1) affective response (e.g., how one feels in response to PA behavior) to PA; (2) incidental affect (e.g., how one feels throughout the day, unrelated to the target behavior); (3) affect processing (e.g., affective associations, implicit attitudes, remembered affect, anticipated affective response, and affective judgments); and (4) affectively charged motivational states (e.g., intrinsic motivation, fear, and hedonic motivation). After defining each category of affective construct, we provide examples of relevant research showing how each construct may relate to PA behavior. We conclude each section with a discussion of future directions for research.

Aerobic Training Improves Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of a supervised aerobic exercise training intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQL), cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiometabolic profile, and affective response in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

Twenty-seven overweight/obese inactive women with PCOS (body mass index, ≥ 25 kg·m; age 18 to 34 yr) were allocated into an exercise group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 13). Progressive aerobic exercise training was performed three times per week (~150 min·wk) over 16 wk. Cardiorespiratory fitness, HRQL, and cardiometabolic profile were evaluated before and after the intervention. Affective response (i.e., feeling of pleasure/displeasure) was evaluated during the exercise sessions.

RESULTS

The exercise group improved 21% ± 12% of cardiorespiratory fitness (P < 0.001) and HRQL in the following domains: physical functioning, general health, and mental health (P < 0.05). Moreover, the exercise group decreased body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol level (P < 0.05). The affective response varied from "good" to "fairly good" (i.e., positive affective response) in an exercise intensity-dependent manner during the exercise training sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

Progressive aerobic exercise training improved HRQL, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic profile of overweight/obese women with PCOS. Moreover, the participants reported the exercise training sessions as pleasant over the intervention. These results reinforce the importance of supervised exercise training as a therapeutic approach for overweight/obese women with PCOS.