Effect of a physical exercise program on physical fitness and visceral fat in people with obesity

Abstract

Abstract. Background. Obesity can be defined as an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure as a result weight gain. Currently is accepted that obesity is one of the major social and health problems worldwide and its prevalence is continuously increasing. Visceral fat is considered as a pathogenic factor in obesity. Objective. The main was to evaluate the effect of concurrent training on physical fitness in people with obesity, body composition and visceral fat area. Methods. 30 obese people participated in this study. They conducted an adapted and controlled concurrent training program during eight weeks. Physical fitness tests (muscular resistance, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility) and body composition measure were applied before and after the intervention period. Results. Improvement was observed on physical fitness variables. Muscle strength, both in the lower extremities (p = .001) and upper extremities (right arm p = .001 and left arm p = .002). Also, the walking speed (p = .001) and agility (p = .001) increased significantly. All body composition variables improved significantly. While fat mass, body weight, BMI and visceral fat area decreased considerably (p <.001), fat free mass and muscle mass increased significantly (p = .001). Conclusion. Concurrent training program improves significantly body composition in obese people, which are related with levels muscular strength enhanced, and conduces significant decrease in visceral fat.