Impact of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Autonomic Function and Cardiopulmonary Endurance in Obese College Students

NCT06848985 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: No.155223005
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study explores the potential link between aerobic exercise combined with resistance training and improvements in cardiopulmonary function in obese individuals, focusing particularly on the influence of autonomic nerve function. By examining the effects of combined exercise on obese college students, this research aims to elucidate the critical role that autonomic nerve function improvement plays in enhancing cardiopulmonary function in this demographic. The study primarily utilized a combined exercise regimen of aerobic and resistance exercises, conducted three times a week over a period of 16 weeks. One session was held during class hours, with the remaining two sessions scheduled during free time in the university gym. Aerobic exercises included the use of treadmills and elliptical machines, with intensity maintained at 60%-70% of the maximum heart rate (calculated as 220 minus age), for a total of 40 minutes per session (5 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of main exercise, and 5 minutes of cool-down). Heart rate monitors were used to ensure the intensity was maintained; resistance exercises involved gym equipment and bodyweight exercises, including the use of a pec deck machine, lat pull-downs, chest presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, leg curls, and leg presses. The intensity of resistance exercises was set at about 65%-70% of one repetition maximum (1RM), with each session consisting of three sets of 6-8 repetitions and lasting for 30 minutes.

Conditions

Obese College Students; Aerobic Exercise Combined with Resistance Exercise

Keywords

Aerobic exercise combined with resistance exercises; Cardiorespiratory endurance; Autonomic function; Obese college students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Autonomic function

  Autonomic function was assessed using the Pushikang FLY-2 autonomic physiological monitor. Participants were required to abstain from caffeinated and alcoholic beverages for 12 hours and from strenuous physical activity for 48 hours prior to the test. The testing was conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in a controlled environment with temperatures maintained at 22-24°C. The test duration was 5 minutes, during which participants sat quietly and refrained from speaking. Autonomic nerve function parameters were recorded using finger photoplethysmography to measure pulse wave changes in a resting state. Data was processed using Beijing Fourier's autonomic nerve response analysis software (ANS-1, V6.6). Time-domain analysis focused on the mean interval between heartbeats to reflect sympathetic/vagal modulation, and the variance of these intervals indicated the overall variability of cardiac function, providing critical prognostic information.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

• Cardiorespiratory endurance

  Cardiopulmonary function was evaluated using the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET, Schiller) on a Rehab-B exercise treadmill. To ensure test accuracy, participants were instructed to refrain from physical activity on the day prior to the test and to avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and food for 8 hours before testing and during the first 3 hours of the test day. The exercise commenced with a 3-minute rest followed by a gradual load phase, allowing participants to reach voluntary fatigue within 8 to 12 minutes, and then continue at maximum tolerance for an additional 3 minutes. The exercise protocol followed the Bruce protocol, with incremental loads adjusted for gender: 25 W/min for males and 15 W/min for females.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

• Body composition

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

30 participants underwent a 16-week program of aerobic (60%-70% HRmax for 40 minutes) and resistance exercises (65%-70% RM for 30 minutes).

Behavioral: Aerobic combined with Resistance exercise

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

30 participants maintained normal physical activity without additional interventions.

Interventions

Aerobic combined with Resistance exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants are required to perform aerobic and resistance exercises. Aerobic exercises included the use of treadmills and elliptical machines, with intensity maintained at 60%-70% of the maximum heart rate (calculated as 220 minus age), for a total of 40 minutes per session (5 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of main exercise, and 5 minutes of cool-down). Heart rate monitors were used to ensure the intensity was maintained; resistance exercises involved gym equipment and bodyweight exercises, including the use of a pec deck machine, lat pull-downs, chest presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, leg curls, and leg presses. The intensity of resistance exercises was set at about 65%-70% of one repetition maximum (1RM), with each session consisting of three sets of 6-8 repetitions and lasting for 30 minutes.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 22 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, China: lead

Study Sites (1)

Capital University Of Physical Education And Sports

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100080, China

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor

Model Details: Obese college students aged 18-22 were recruited from a university in Beijing to participate in a public elective course on exercise for weight loss and slimming at the Capital University of Physical Education and Sport (CUPES). Ultimately, 60 students who met these criteria were selected for the study, divided into an experimental group of 30 and a control group of 30. The study primarily utilized a combined exercise regimen of aerobic and resistance exercises, conducted three times a week over a period of 16 weeks. The control group maintained their normal physical activity levels without any additional intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2025
• First Posted: February 27, 2025
• Study Start: September 2, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 24, 2023
• Study Completion: December 24, 2023
• Last Updated: February 27, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE

Locations

CN (1)