Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal

To study the influence of total body workout in women with abdominal obesity.

Obesity is an important public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing with changes in dietary habits and activity level. Those who are overweight are at higher risk for a variety of disabling and life threatening chronic conditions and premature mortality. Obesity is categorized morphologically as total body obesity and abdominal obesity. The individuals with abdominal obesity are prone for several cardio metabolic risk factors and exaggeration of insulin resistance. General obesity is usually treated with lifestyle and dietary modification and increasing the intensity of physical activity. Some studies reveal that level of obesity is not the important; it is the level of physical activity of an individual decides the morbidity and mortality rates. An overview of literature has concentrated on weight reduction methods (medical and surgical) for general body obesity. A very few studies are done on regulation of abdominal obesity and specific protocols were not designed to treat abdominal obesity. Hence, it is required to find out the influence of total body workout and specific abdominal exercise in women with abdominal obesity.

To study the effect of total body workout on physical factors in women with abdominal obesity by evaluating body mass index, waist circumference.

Department of physiotherapy, SVIMS, tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

30 subjects who met inclusive criteria were selected by random sampling method and divided into experimental and control group. (15 in each group)

A total of 30 abdominally obese women participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (group1) a 12 weeks aerobic exercise programme 45 minutes/day, 6 days/week under supervision were done and in control group (group2) the above exercises were taught and advised to do in home. The subject's Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Visceral Fat %, Body Fat% and Vo₂peak were assessed before and after the completion of aerobic exercise programme.

According to the data analysis, a significant difference was found between the pre and post test values of Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Visceral Fat %, Body Fat% and Vo₂peak in both experimental and control groups (p<0.05), but comparatively more significant changes was found in the experimental than the control group(p<0.05).

Total body workout had significant influence in women with abdominal obesity. There was a significant change in physical factors like body mass index, waist circumference, physiological factors like visceral fat %, body fat % and functional factors like vo₂peak. Hence, it is concluded that 12weeks total body workout is effective in women with abdominal obesity.