EFFECTS OF A 12-WEEK EXERCISE PROGRAMME ON ABDOMINAL ADIPOSITY, SELECTED CARDIORESPIRATORY INDICES AND QUALITYOF LIFE IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY SEDENTARY ADULTS

Abstract

Abdominal adiposity may be associated with impaired cardiorespiratory function and reduced quality of life. Studies have reported that aerobic exercises significantly reduce general adiposity, but has little or no effect on abdominal adiposity. However the effects of a combination of aerobic and abdominal strengthening exercises on abdominal adiposity are not known. Also it is not clear whether any change in abdominal adiposity may be accompanied by changes in cardiorespiratory function and quality of life of Apparently Healthy Sedentary Adults (AHSA). Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week aerobic and abdominal strengthening exercise programme on abdominal adiposity, cardiorespiratory function and quality of life of AHSA. Two hundred and fourteen consenting AHSA participated in this quasi experimental study. They were recruited from the University College Hospital community and randomly assigned into Exercise Group (EG) and Control Group (CG). The EG comprised 105 participants while the CG comprised 109 participants, however 74 participants in the EG and 68 in the CG completed the study. Both groups received health promotion education, while only participants in the EG went through exercise training which included aerobic and abdominal strengthening exercises. Exercise was carried out thrice weekly for 12 consecutive weeks. Adiposity indices- Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), Sum of Abdominal Skinfold (SAS); Cardiorespiratory indices- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Heart Rate (HR), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Maximum Oxygen Consumption (VO2max) and Quality of Life (QoL) were assessed at baseline, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks for both groups. Quality of life was assessed using World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA at p=0.05. Participants in the EG and CG were comparable in age (35.4±9.7 and 34.7±7.6yrs); weight (76.6±13.8 and 74.8±12.6kg); and height (1.6±7.0 and 1.6±7.2m) at baseline. The EG had significant increases between the scores at baseline and at the end of the 12th week of study in VO2max (14.3±5.3 and 15.4±4.8L/kg/min), PEFR (366.4±69.3 and 473.1±64.2L/sec), FEV1 (2.1±0.6 and 2.8±0.6L), FVC (2.6±0.6 and 3.5±0.7L) and QoL score (262.6±35.5 and 332.8± 32.4). However, there were significant decreases in WC (94.4±10.8 to 89.2±9.8cm), SAS (77.3±17.6 to 69.3±16.9mm), SBP (119.5±12.3 to 112.1±8.1mmHg), DBP (75.4±9.7 to 67.4±6.1mmHg) and HR (81.4±10.7 to 70.1±6.2b/min). Within the CG, there was a significant increase in DBP (73.5±8.4 to 77.3 ±7.3mmHg), but there was none in other parameters. At the end of the12th week showed significant differences between the EG and CG in WC (89.2±9.8 and 93.7±9.7cm), SAS (69.3±16.9 and 77.3±17.6mm) and VO2max (15.4±4.8 and14.4±7.1L/kg/min); PEFR (473.1±64.2 and 420.7±74.8 L/sec), SBP 5 (112.1±8.1and119.6±7.1mmHg), DBP (67.4±6.1 and 77.4 ±7.9mmHg), HR (70.1±6.2 and 77.4±5.8b/min) and QoL (332.8±32.4 and 255.0± 29.5) respectively. Twelve-week aerobic and abdominal strengthening exercise programme reduced abdominal adiposity, improved cardiorespiratory function and quality of life in apparently-healthy sedentary adults. A combination of aerobic and abdominal strengthening exercise programme is recommended to people in this category for beneficial.