Impact of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Autonomic Function and Cardiopulmonary Endurance in Obese College Students

This study explores the potential link between aerobic exercise combined with resistance training and improvements in cardiopulmonary function in obese individuals, focusing particularly on the influence of autonomic nerve function. By examining the effects of combined exercise on obese college students, this research aims to elucidate the critical role that autonomic nerve function improvement plays in enhancing cardiopulmonary function in this demographic.

The study primarily utilized a combined exercise regimen of aerobic and resistance exercises, conducted three times a week over a period of 16 weeks. One session was held during class hours, with the remaining two sessions scheduled during free time in the university gym. Aerobic exercises included the use of treadmills and elliptical machines, with intensity maintained at 60%-70% of the maximum heart rate (calculated as 220 minus age), for a total of 40 minutes per session (5 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of main exercise, and 5 minutes of cool-down). Heart rate monitors were used to ensure the intensity was maintained; resistance exercises involved gym equipment and bodyweight exercises, including the use of a pec deck machine, lat pull-downs, chest presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, leg curls, and leg presses. The intensity of resistance exercises was set at about 65%-70% of one repetition maximum (1RM), with each session consisting of three sets of 6-8 repetitions and lasting for 30 minutes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obese College Students; Aerobic Exercise Combined with Resistance Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Aerobic combined with Resistance exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing
    • Beijing, Beijing, China, 100080
      • Capital University of Physical Education And Sports

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Obese college students aged 18-22 were recruited from a university in Beijing to participate in a public elective course on exercise for weight loss and slimming at the Capital University of Physical Education and Sport (CUPES). The inclusion criteria included a BMI of ≥28 kg/m^2, no history of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, no psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder), and no physical disabilities or movement disorders (such as bone and joint diseases).

Exclusion Criteria:

• The exclusion criteria include individuals with diseases that may affect training (such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders), as well as those diagnosed with mental disorders (such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group; 30 participants underwent a 16-week program of aerobic (60%-70% HRmax for 40 minutes) and resistance exercises (65%-70% RM for 30 minutes).	Behavioral: Aerobic combined with Resistance exercise; Participants are required to perform aerobic and resistance exercises. Aerobic exercises included the use of treadmills and elliptical machines, with intensity maintained at 60%-70% of the maximum heart rate (calculated as 220 minus age), for a total of 40 minutes per session (5 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of main exercise, and 5 minutes of cool-down). Heart rate monitors were used to ensure the intensity was maintained; resistance exercises involved gym equipment and bodyweight exercises, including the use of a pec deck machine, lat pull-downs, chest presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, leg curls, and leg presses. The intensity of resistance exercises was set at about 65%-70% of one repetition maximum (1RM), with each session consisting of three sets of 6-8 repetitions and lasting for 30 minutes.
No Intervention: Control Group; 30 participants maintained normal physical activity without additional interventions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Autonomic function	Autonomic function was assessed using the Pushikang FLY-2 autonomic physiological monitor. Participants were required to abstain from caffeinated and alcoholic beverages for 12 hours and from strenuous physical activity for 48 hours prior to the test. The testing was conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in a controlled environment with temperatures maintained at 22-24°C. The test duration was 5 minutes, during which participants sat quietly and refrained from speaking. Autonomic nerve function parameters were recorded using finger photoplethysmography to measure pulse wave changes in a resting state. Data was processed using Beijing Fourier's autonomic nerve response analysis software (ANS-1, V6.6). Time-domain analysis focused on the mean interval between heartbeats to reflect sympathetic/vagal modulation, and the variance of these intervals indicated the overall variability of cardiac function, providing critical prognostic information.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks
Cardiorespiratory endurance	Cardiopulmonary function was evaluated using the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET, Schiller) on a Rehab-B exercise treadmill. To ensure test accuracy, participants were instructed to refrain from physical activity on the day prior to the test and to avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and food for 8 hours before testing and during the first 3 hours of the test day. The exercise commenced with a 3-minute rest followed by a gradual load phase, allowing participants to reach voluntary fatigue within 8 to 12 minutes, and then continue at maximum tolerance for an additional 3 minutes. The exercise protocol followed the Bruce protocol, with incremental loads adjusted for gender: 25 W/min for males and 15 W/min for females.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score	The Functional Movement Screening (FMS) is a standardized tool used to assess the functional motor abilities of individuals. It consists of seven tests (squatting, stepping, lunging, reaching, leg raising, push-up, and rotary stability) that balance flexibility and stability, allowing medical and fitness professionals to identify problems such as weakness, imbalance, asymmetry, and movement limitations. In the FMS, each action is scored from 0 to 3: a score of 3 indicates the individual can perform the movement standardly and stably without compensation; a score of 2 signifies that the movement can be completed, albeit with some instability or compensatory behavior; a score of 1 indicates an inability to perform the movement according to the standards. Research has shown that lower FMS scores correlate with a higher risk of injury. Typically, a threshold score of 14 is used, with individuals scoring below this level considered at greater risk of injury.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks
Body composition	Body composition was assessed using the InBody760 (Ver. LookinBody120.4.0.0.7) bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Measurements were taken in the early morning, with subjects fasting and in a controlled temperature environment (22-24℃), providing immediate readings of body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, visceral fat area.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, China

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 2, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 24, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 24, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Autonomic function; Cardiorespiratory endurance; Aerobic exercise combined with resistance exercises; Obese college students
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: No.155223005

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No