Effect of low and medium intensity cardiac circuit exercises on selected anthropometric measures among obese male students

Abstract

The purpose of present study was to find out the effect of low and medium intensity cardiac circuit exercises on selected anthropometric measures among obese male students. To achieve this purpose, forty five obese male students, studying in various classes and departments of Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, in the age group of 21 - 25 years were selected as subjects. The selected 45 subjects were divided into three equal groups, in which, group – I (n = 15) underwent low intensity cardiac circuit exercise with 50% of heart rate, group – II (n = 15) underwent medium intensity cardiac circuit exercise with 55% of heart rate, group – III (n = 15) acted as control which did not participate in any special training. The training programme was carried three days per week for twelve weeks (alternative days). Prior to and after the training period the subjects were tested for, body mass index and percentage of body fat. Body mass index (BMI) was measured by using Deurenberg et al. formula and percentage of body fat was measured by using Quetelet index. The collected data were statistically analyzed by using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Scheffĕ’ s Post-Hoc Test. The result of the study was a significant decrease on percentage of body fat and body mass index after twelve weeks of low and medium intensity cardiac circuit programme. However the decrease was favour of experimental group. There was a significant difference was occurred between medium intensity cardiac circuit exercises and control group after twelve weeks of medium intensity cardiac circuit programme.