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Two things that stuck out to me after reading the abstract: * The control group wasn't "no exercise." It was "follow national guidelines for physical activity

Two things that stuck out to me after reading the abstract: * The control group wasn't "no exercise." It was "follow national guidelines for physical activity." * Median age of study participants was 72.8 years. Because of this, I'm not sure what this study actually means, other than "grandma should get more exercise." I suppose this is a fine study design, if you specifically want to study senior citizens, but it would be nice to have a much longer-term study on younger people.

conistonwater 6y ago
It is perfectly reasonable for the control group to be following standard guidelines. In all medical trials, for example, the control group usually follows the current standard of care. Why does that stick out?
- pmiller2 6y ago
  Medical trials are generally placebo controlled, if they're any good.
- ksdale 6y ago
  It sticks out at least in the US because "following standard guidelines" is not what most people do. Most people (at least in the US) hardly exercise at all, so a control groups that exercises 30 minutes a day is already a group that exercises a lot compared to the average person. I agree with you that its reasonable, but the study then teaches you about the relative merits of different kinds of exercise, rather than the effect of exercise compared to "no exercise" which is how people tend to think of a control group.
  - solveit 6y ago
    Yes, but I think the question motivating the study is "should we change standard guidelines?" and not "is exercise good?". Not least because exercise is very very good and rechecking that isn't a very high priority.
mcguire 6y ago
Then, there's "Control participants chose to perform more of their physical activity as HIIT than the physical activity undertaken by participants in the MICT group. This meant that the controls achieved an exercise dose at an intensity between the MICT and HIIT groups." I'm not sure that's really a control group.

conistonwater 6y ago

It is perfectly reasonable for the control group to be following standard guidelines. In all medical trials, for example, the control group usually follows the current standard of care. Why does that stick out?

pmiller2 6y ago
Medical trials are generally placebo controlled, if they're any good.
ksdale 6y ago
It sticks out at least in the US because "following standard guidelines" is not what most people do. Most people (at least in the US) hardly exercise at all, so a control groups that exercises 30 minutes a day is already a group that exercises a lot compared to the average person. I agree with you that its reasonable, but the study then teaches you about the relative merits of different kinds of exercise, rather than the effect of exercise compared to "no exercise" which is how people tend to think of a control group.
- solveit 6y ago
  Yes, but I think the question motivating the study is "should we change standard guidelines?" and not "is exercise good?". Not least because exercise is very very good and rechecking that isn't a very high priority.

mcguire 6y ago

Then, there's "Control participants chose to perform more of their physical activity as HIIT than the physical activity undertaken by participants in the MICT group. This meant that the controls achieved an exercise dose at an intensity between the MICT and HIIT groups." I'm not sure that's really a control group.