Effects of aquatic interval training on predicted peak oxygen uptake, lung volumes, body composition and quality of life in obesity

Abstract

Objective: To investigate effects of 6-week aquatic interval training on alterations of predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), lung volumes, body composition and quality of life (QOL) in obesity. Methods: 21-sedentary obesity were randomly assigned to a control (5 females and 5 males, age 38.6 ± 9.68 years, BMI 31.77 ± 4.73 kg/m2) and a training group (6 females and 5 males, age 33.73 ± 9.13 years, BMI 30.96 ± 3.47 kg/m2). The training group performed 6-week aquatic interval training at 60-75% of heart rate reserve 3 days/week. The control group received 6-week home program of self-stretching exercise. Predicted VO2peak​, lung volumes, body composition and QOL were measured before and after the training. Results: The trained obesity had significant alterations in predicted VO2peak​ 6.74 ± 5.56% (p = 0.002) , 6-minute walk distance 8.40 ± 6.01% (p = 0.001), force expiratory volume in 1st second 8.92 ± 6.52% (p = 0.036) , peak expiratory flow 42.32 ± 42.27% (p = 0.017), waist circumference -2.35 ± 3.62% (p = 0.028), waist-hip ratio -2.59 ± 2.64% (p = 0.022), %skeletal muscle for legs 1.26 ± 1.72% (p = 0.020) and arms 1.44 ± 1.91% (p = 0.002), Weight Related Symptom Measure score -66.43 ± 20.71% (p < 0.001), and Obesity and Weight Loss QOL score 19.38 ± 15.15% (p = 0.003) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Six-week aquatic interval training contributes to improve predicted VO2peak, lung volumes, body composition and QOL in obesity. This program would be another modality to apply in obesity for enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness and QOL, and reduction in body composition. Trial registration: TCTR20160818003.