Author(s)

Cheng Ma^1*, DaXi Mou²

Affiliation(s)

¹Department of Physical education, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.

²College of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.

Corresponding Author

Cheng Ma

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an eight-week moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) intervention on body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and lower extremity (LE) muscle strength in overweight and obese young men. Methods: A total of fifty participants completed a supervised 8-week MICT program, which was conducted three times per week, with each training session consisting of 33-minute jogging or brisk walking at 65%-75% of their maximum heart rate (HRmax), a 10-minute warm-up, and a 5-minute cool-down. Body composition, the Cooper 12-minute run test (12CR), and the 30-second Chair Stand Test (30CST) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Following the intervention, participants showed significant reductions in body mass, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p < 0.001). Additionally, there were significant improvements in both aerobic capacity, as measured by the Cooper 12-minute run distance (p < 0.001), and functional LE muscle strength, as measured by the 30CST (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The eight-week MICT program effectively improved body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and functional LE muscle strength in overweight and obese young men. These findings support the potential of MICT as a viable exercise strategy for weight management and health improvement in university settings.

KEYWORDS

Exercise training; Weight loss; Physical fitness; Young adult; 30-second Chair Stand Tests

CITE THIS PAPER

Cheng Ma, DaXi Mou. The efficacy of moderate-intensity training for overweight and obese university male students. Eurasia Journal of Science and Technology. 2024, 6(4): 1-4. DOI: 10.61784/ejst3018.

REFERENCES

[1] Alosaimi, N, Sherar, L B, Griffiths, P, et al. Clustering of diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour and related physical and mental health outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 2023, 23(1): 1572. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16372-6.

[2] Guo, L, Chen, J, Yuan, W. The effect of HIIT on body composition, cardiovascular fitness, psychological well-being, and executive function of overweight/obese female young adults. Front Psychol, 2022, 13: 1095328. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1095328.

[3] Jaaskelainen, T, Koponen, P, Lundqvist, A, et al. Lifestyle factors and obesity in young adults - changes in the 2000s in Finland. Scand J Public Health, 2022, 50(8): 1214-1220. DOI: 10.1177/14034948221075427.

[4] Berge, J, Hjelmesaeth J, Hertel JK, et al. Effect of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Energy Expenditure and Weight Loss in Severe Obesity-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2021, 29(2): 359-369. DOI: 10.1002/oby.23078.

[5] Guo, Z, Li M, Cai J, et al. Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Fat Loss and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Young and Middle-Aged a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023, 20(6): 4741. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064741.

[6] Ye, X, Liu, R. Intervention Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Physical Fitness, Emotional State and Mental Health of Drug Addicts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023, 20(3): 2272. DOI:  10.3390/ijerph20032272.

[7] Armstrong, A, Jungbluth Rodriguez K, Sabag A, et al. Effect of aerobic exercise on waist circumference in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev, 2022, 23 (8): e13446. DOI: 10.1111/obr.13446.

[8] Ross, R, Neeland IJ, Yamashita S, et al. Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: a Consensus Statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 2020, 16(3): 177-189. DOI: 10.1038/s41574-019-0310-7.

[9] Yin, M, Chen Z, Nassis GP, et al. Chronic high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training are both effective in increasing maximum fat oxidation during exercise in overweight and obese adults: A meta-analysis. J Exerc Sci Fit, 2023, 21(4): 354-365. DOI: 10.1016/j.jesf.2023.08.001.

[10] Wichitsranoi, J, Ladawan, S, Sirijaichingkul, S, et al. Relationship between aerobic capacity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Thai men and women with normolipidemia and dyslipidemia. J Phys Ther Sci, 2015, 27 (11): 3503-3509. DOI: 10.1589/jpts.27.3503.

[11] Tomlinson, D J, Erskine, R M, Morse, C I, et al. The impact of obesity on skeletal muscle strength and structure through adolescence to old age. Biogerontology, 2016, 17 (3): 467-483. DOI: 10.1007/s10522-015-9626-4.

[12] Stenholm, S, Alley D, Bandinelli S, et al. The effect of obesity combined with low muscle strength on decline in mobility in older persons: results from the InCHIANTI Study. International Journal of Obesity, 2009, 33(6): 635-644. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.62.