Abstract

Objectives: This study determined whether a moderate- or high-dose exercise program increases exercise reinforcement. Increasing the relative reinforcing value of exercise (RRVexercise; i.e., incentive sensitization of exercise) may increase the usual physical activity (PA) participation. Preference and/or tolerance for the intensity of exercise was also assessed.

Design: Sedentary men and women (body mass index, BMI: 25–35 kg/m2) were randomized into parallel exercise training groups expending either 300 (n = 18) or 600 (n = 18) kcal/exercise session, five sessions/week, for 12 weeks.

Methods: The RRVexercise was determined by how much work was performed for exercise relative to a sedentary alternative in a progressive ratio schedule task. Preference and tolerance for exercise intensity were determined by questionnaire.

Results: RRVexercise increased (P < 0.05) in both groups. Exercise reinforcement, defined as the amount of work completed for exercise without taking sedentary activity into account, increased (P < 0.01) in the 600 kcal group only. Preference and tolerance for exercise intensity increased (P < 0.01) in both groups, which predicted increases in RRVexercise.

Conclusion: Expending 300 or 600 kcal, 5 days/week increases RRVexercise, while 600 kcal, 5 days/week may be needed to increase exercise reinforcement.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-3-2019

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, v. 13, article 265, p. 1-8.

© 2019 Flack, Ufholz, Johnson and Roemmich.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00265

Funding Information

This study was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and Project 3062-51000-051-00D.

Related Content

The Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center Data Access Committee, an entity of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, can be contacted by interested researchers inquiring about gaining access to all data presented.

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