Effect of Aerobic Training Versus Chair Aerobics on Body Mass Index and Quality of Life in Obese Desk Job Workers

Abstract

Obesity is defined as an excess accumulation of body fat. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increase in BMI over time, thus leading to obesity. Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety traits and to improve physical self- perception and mental well-being. In desk job profession, physical activity levels at work are low while sedentary behavior is high. Aerobic exercise training using treadmill has capacity to improve the intrinsic pump capacity of the myocardium. Participation in regular aerobic exercises is now considered an essential component in any long term obesity management. Chair aerobics is a form of aerobic exercise performed while sitting in a chair, which include upper and lower body movements led by an instructor while listening to music and sitting in a straight-back chair. Aim : to study the effect of aerobic versus chair aerobics on body mass index and quality of life in obese desk job workers. Method:The materials that will be used in this study are treadmill and chair with outcome measures as Obesity Related Well-Being Questionnaire (ORWELL-97) and BMI. 38 subjects will be randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1(aerobic training) will be given aerobic training on treadmill for 30 minutes, 3 times per week for 2 months. Group 2 (chair aerobics) will be given Chair aerobics for 30 minutes 4 times per week for 2 months. Pre & post intervention assessments i.e. body mass index and ORWELL- 97 Questionnaire will give the final result for the given topic. Outcome measures: Prior and after treatment both the outcome measures, Body Mass Index (BMI) and quality of life using Obesity Related Well Being Questionnaire (ORWELL-97) were measured. Result: The result of the present study demonstrates that in group 1there was greater reduction in body weight as compared to group 2 but there was greater improvement in quality of life in group 2 than in group 1. There was no significant effect statistically in BMI in both the groups. Conclusion: Study was done exclusively on desk job workers to compare the effect of aerobic training versus chair aerobics on BMI and quality of life. Aerobic training using treadmill showed greater reduction in body weight as compared to chair aerobics. Chair aerobics showed greater improvement in quality of life as compared to aerobic training using treadmill.