Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise training on anthropometric parameters of human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals

Abstract

Background: The use of antiretroviral drugs has made human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS a chronic disease with adverse anthropometric changes as one of its complications. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training on anthropometric parameters of HIV-positive individuals. The study examined the influence of aerobic and resistance exercises on body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat and visceral fat of persons living with HIV/AIDS in a tertiary health institution in South–South zone of Nigeria. Methods: A randomised control trial design was employed in this study. Eighty-eight HIV-seropositive patients in stages 1 and 2 participated in the study. Randomisation was done into the control and aerobic exercise group and resistance exercise group. The experimental groups exercised thrice a week for 10 weeks and the non-experimental group received usual antiretroviral drugs and counselling. Initial intensity of the exercise was 60% HRmax and 1-RM and progression was by 10% every 3 weeks. Anthropometric parameters were recorded initially and on termination of 10 weeks for all three groups. Frequency, mean, standard deviation, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used for the data analysis. The Bonferroni pairwise comparison was used as post hoc test to identify the source of differences. Results: The outcome of this research showed that aerobic and resistance exercises resulted in significant alterations in anthropometric parameters of BMI (f = 13.617; Sig = 0.000), percentage body fat (f = 10.074; Sig = 0.000), WHR (f = 11.070; Sig = 0.000) and visceral fat (f = 10.286; Sig = 0.000). Conclusion: It was, therefore, concluded that aerobic and resistance are beneficial to HIV-seropositive persons and recommended that exercise should be prescribed for HIV-infected persons to enhance their anthropometric parameters resulting in improved health.