The Effect of a Selected Aerobic Exercise Program on Body Composition, Lipid Profile and Workability Index of Overweight and Obese Employees

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 12 week a selected aerobic exercise program on body ‎composition, lipid profile, and working ability of employees involved overweight and obese.‎ Method: In this semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test design and control group, 65 overweight employees were ‎selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. Then aerobic ‎exercise program three sessions per week and each session 65-50 minutes, was performed for 12 weeks for the ‎experimental group. The control group did not have such an intervention. Body composition indices, workability ‎index and, lipid profile were measured before and after the training protocol for both groups. Data were analyzed ‎using the covariance test (ANCOVA).‎ Results: The results showed that aerobic exercise significantly reduced body composition indices, including (fat percentage, ‎body mass index, and waist to pelvic ratio) and total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) the exercise ‎group compared with the control group. The levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the ability to work index ‎of the exercise group also increased (P <0.05).‎ Conclusions: The results indicated that aerobic exercise could improve body composition, lipid profile and workability index, and ‎prevented contracting chronic diseases, reducing their ability to work, and retiring early in overweight and obese ‎employees.‎