Abstract
Given that the recent rise in obesity rates throughout Southeast Asia is disproportionately driven by women, part of the regional solution may be to encourage more habitual physical activity within this population. Taking advantage of the regional popularity of walking football, this study sought to characterize thecardiovascular demands and metabolic intensity of Southeast Asian women competing in walking football matches to determine the sports’ suitability for promoting physical health. It was hypothesized that both cardiovascular and metabolic intensity measures (≥65% HR% and ≥3.0 METs, respectively) would meet or exceed established thresholds for improving fitness and health. Methods: Women’s teams from Singapore (Mean±SD: 42±11 yrs age; 29.2±7.0 kg/m2 BMI; n=14) and Malaysia (40±10 yrs age; 32.9±5.7 kg/m2 BMI; n=8) competed in two successive matches within a single day during which measures of heart rate (HR) and GPS (from portable handheld device) were recorded for each player, while relative HR was computed as a percent of each player’s age-predicted maximal HR (HR%, %). The GPS data were later converted to walking distance and metabolic intensity (i.e., metabolic equivalents, or METs). One-sample t-tests at the 0.05 alpha level were used to compare variables to their respective thresholds. Results: Both Malaysian and Singaporean teams had mean relative HRs (91-95% of HRMAX [P=0.008] versus 77-80% of HRMAX [P<0.001], respectively) that exceeded the 65% threshold for improving cardiovascular fitness. Both teams also maintained an average metabolic intensity that was statistically similar to the 3.0 MET threshold that decreases one risk for non-communicable diseases (3.2±0.9 METs [P=0.0510] versus (3.3±1.0 METs [P=0.288], respectively), and both teams walked an average of 2.2-2.4 kms/match. Conclusions: These results support the idea that competitive walking football is of sufficient intensity to promote positive changes in both cardiovascular and metabolic fitness in this population of Southeast Asian women.
Highlights
While many factors are known to contributeAccording to a 2017 report, obesity to changes in regional obesity rates (e.g., regional prevalence has steadily increased over the past three economic development, personal and family decades in every ASEAN (Association of South-East socioeconomic status, local urbanization, availabilityAsian Nations) country sampled (i.e., Indonesia, of food, genetic predisposition, etc.), the increasingMalaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and prevalence of sedentary behaviors, as well as lessVietnam) [1]
Vietnam to 13.3% for Malaysia in 2014) than other habitual physical activity (PA), which is commonly countries like the United States (33.7%) and the defined as any bodily movement that significantly
Not that promoted in the U.S [2], is based upon moderate only have the obesity rates increased at an alarming and vigorous metabolic intensity thresholds defined rate in this region of the world, but the rates are as 3.0 and 6.0 metabolic equivalents (METs), being driven disproportionately by women
Summary
According to a 2017 report, obesity to changes in regional obesity rates The energetic demands (i.e., metabolic intensity) of popularity of walking football has grown quickly Southeast Asian women competing in walking throughout Europe in just the last few years [5], football matches It was hypothesized while new clubs/teams and competitive leagues have that measures of relative heart rate (HR%) would started in the North America and Southeast Asia. The sport of walking football is optimally suited for improving CV fitness [12] It was hypothesized people who want to participate in a team-based that the average metabolic intensity of walking sport, are healthy enough to engage in moderate-to- football match play would meet or exceed the 3.0 vigorous PA, but who either cannot or do not want to MET threshold for promoting metabolic health and run. The data were downloaded to a computer for further processing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
