Effects of an 8-week community exercise program on health-related physical fitness in overweight and obese working adults

BACKGROUND: Risks reduction for CVD is greater with improvement of health-related physical fitness; cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body composition. All of these need to be addressed in exercise routines to achieve best physical health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week exercise program on physical fitness components in overweight and obese adults. METHODS: 185 men and women 18-50 years of age with BMI 23-34.9 kg/m(2) were recruited from housing areas and gyms in Klang Valley for this study (intervention N.=90, control N.=103). Participants in intervention group followed an 8-week exercise program for 60 min/day, 3 days/week, and control group was adequately briefed regarding physical fitness, health-related benefits and advised to exercise regularly for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-program measurements were executed at baseline and after 8-weeks. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean improvement between intervention and control group in cardiorespiratory fitness (P<0.001), muscle strength (P<0.001), muscle endurance (P<0.001), flexibility (P<0.001), and the reduction in body fat percentage (P<0.001). However there was no significant increase in lean mass between groups (P=0.218). CONCLUSIONS: There was improvement in most components of health-related physical fitness following this program, however short duration of this study resulted in insignificant increase in the lean body mass.