Exercise 'aids body image'

Walking can help people feel better, say researcher

Brisk walking and abdominal muscle stimulation can improve fitness and body appearance, according to a Northern Ireland university.

Researchers from the University of Ulster's School of Health Sciences tested a group of 32 sedentary women over an eight-week period.

One group took 30-minute walks five times a week; another group went walking while wearing an electrical muscle stimulation device and a third group continued with their normal lifestyle.

Each of the participants was tested before, during and after the eight-week period.

Their height and body mass was measured, as was their blood pressure, fitness on a treadmill and ability to perform stomach crunches.

The health benefits of brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular risk have been well documented Dr Marie Murphy

The study found that those who wore the device while walking achieved the greatest decrease in body mass.

They also had a reduction in waist and hip measurements, the greatest increase in abdominal muscle strength and endurance and improvement in stomach appearance and clothes fit.

Dr Marie Murphy, one of the main researchers, said: "Improved muscle tone, particularly in the abdominal region, is a frequently-cited motive for engaging in exercise programmes.

"The health benefits of brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular risk have been well documented.

"We were examining, as part of a sponsored research programme, the efficacy of a combined programme of brisk walking and abdominal muscle stimulation on fitness, health, body composition and body self-perception among sedentary women.

"The answer appears to be 'Yes', according to the results of the study."

She said those who undertook exercise, with or without the muscle stimulation device, had greater self-esteem and more satisfaction with their bodies at the end of the study period.