Nordic walking for weight control

A test of Nordic walking for weight control involved 12 women in the Nordic walking group and 11 women in the regular walking group (no poles).

Findings:

• “…body mass, body fat and diastolic blood pressure decreased in both groups…”
• “VO2 peak [oxygen intake] increased in the NW [Nordic walking] group…”
• “…mean HR [heart rate]…HR at preferred walking speed…and % of time at high intensity…were higher in NW than in the W [walking] group.”
• “RPE [rate of perceived effort] was not influenced by the modality of exercise and NW group showed a higher rate of adherence”

In other words, the Nordic walking women increased calorie/fat burning intensity without feeling like they were working harder (even thought they actually were).

Notice the last item: “higher rate of adherence.” That means they were more likely to stick to it over the long term.