Practicing Tai Chi had lower energy metabolism than walking but similar health benefits in terms of aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure, body composition and self-perceived physical health

•Practicing Tai Chi consumed a smaller amount of energy than self-paced brisk walking.•Both Tai Chi and walking had positive effects on aerobic capacity, body composition, and self perceived physical health.•Tai Chi had higher effect than walking on improving rest oxygen consumption and kilocalorie expenditure.•Tai Chi had significant effect on improving self-perceived mental health compared with control.•Tai Chi might be a better choice for persons who are less able to perform more vigorous exercises.

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of Tai Chi and walking training on aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and quality of life; as well as analyzing the energy metabolism during exercises, to determine which one had better advantage in improving health status.MethodsThree hundred seventy-four middle-aged Chinese subjects who were recruited from nine geographic areas in Sha Tin were randomized into Tai Chi, walking, or control groups at area level. The 12-week (45 min per day, 5 days per week) Tai Chi or brisk walking training were conducted in respective intervention groups. Measures were performed at baseline and end of trial. Another 30 subjects were recruited to compare the energy metabolism between practicing Tai Chi and walking.ResultsThe between-group difference of VO2max was 3.3 ml/min/kg for Tai Chi vs. control and 3.7 ml/min/kg for walking vs. control (both P < 0.001). BMI, skinfold thicknesses, and SF-12 physical component scores all improved significantly compared with the control group (all P < 0.01). Tai Chi had higher effect on improving REE-VO2 and REE-kilocalorie expenditure than walking. Regarding to energy metabolism test, the self-paced walking produced approximately 46% higher metabolic costs than Tai Chi.ConclusionPracticing Tai Chi consumes a smaller amount of energy metabolism but similar health benefits as self-paced brisk walking.