Home-Based Circuit Training in Adults With Obesity (HBCT)

Effects of Home-Based Circuit Training on Vascular and Metabolic Health in Adults With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Obesity is associated with impaired vascular function, metabolic dysfunction, and reduced physical fitness, which increase cardiovascular disease risk. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of a 12-week home-based circuit training program using light-to-moderate resistance on vascular health, body composition, metabolic function, resting metabolic rate, substrate oxidation, physical activity, and physical fitness in adults with obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a home-based circuit training group or a control group maintaining usual daily activities. The findings may support the use of home-based exercise as a practical and time-efficient strategy for obesity management and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Home-Based Circuit Training

Detailed Description

Obesity is a major public health concern associated with endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, metabolic impairment, and reduced physical fitness. Although exercise training is recommended for obesity management, adherence to supervised exercise programs may be limited by time constraints and accessibility. Home-based circuit training may provide a feasible alternative that combines aerobic and resistance exercise within a time-efficient format.

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of a 12-week home-based circuit training intervention on vascular function, body composition, metabolic function, resting metabolic rate, substrate oxidation, physical activity, and physical fitness in adults with obesity.

Participants with obesity (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m²) will be randomly assigned to either a circuit training group or a control group. The intervention group will perform home-based circuit training using light-to-moderate resistance three times weekly for 12 weeks, while the control group will maintain usual activities.

Primary vascular outcomes include flow-mediated dilation, carotid intima-media thickness, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Secondary outcomes include body composition, fasting plasma glucose, resting metabolic rate, substrate oxidation, physical activity, muscular strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The study aims to determine whether home-based circuit training can improve vascular and metabolic health and serve as a practical strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk in adults with obesity.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 29
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • ฺBangkok
    • Bangkok, ฺBangkok, Thailand, 10330
      • Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults with obesity according to the Asia-Pacific criteria (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 27.5 kg/m²).
• Able to participate in a home-based exercise program.
• Willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 10% or blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL).
• Uncontrolled hypertension (≥ 140/90 mmHg).
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Orthopedic conditions limiting exercise participation.
• Participation in regular exercise programs or sports activities within the previous 3 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Home-Based Circuit Training; Participants in this group will perform a 12-week home-based circuit training program three times per week. Each session includes warm-up, circuit exercise, and cool-down components designed to improve vascular and metabolic health.	Behavioral: Home-Based Circuit Training; Participants will perform a 12-week home-based circuit training program three times per week. Each session includes warm-up, circuit-based exercises targeting major muscle groups, and cool-down activities. The intervention is designed to improve vascular and metabolic health in adults with obesity. The training program consisted of two phases: phase 1 (weeks 1-6) and phase 2 (weeks 7-12). During phase 1, participants performed resistance exercises at an intensity of 65-70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). Each exercise consisted of 12 repetitions, with a 1-minute rest between exercises. The lifting tempo was maintained at 2:2 (concentric: eccentric). Participants completed 8 exercises per circuit for a total of 3 circuits, with a 2-minute rest between circuits. During phase 2, the intensity was increased to 70-75% of 1RM, while maintaining 12 repetitions per exercise. The rest interval between exercises was reduced to 30 seconds, with the same lifting tempo (2:2). Participants complete
No Intervention: Control Group; participants in the control group will maintain their usual daily activities without participating in the exercise intervention during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Vascular Function	Change in flow-mediated dilation from baseline to 12 weeks.	Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chulalongkorn University
• Investigators: Study Director: Daroonwan Suksom, PhD, Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Principal Investigator: Tunyakarn Worasettawat, PhD, Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Study Chair: Hirofumi Tanaka, PhD, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, USA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 18, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 25, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: : circuit training, vascular function, cardiometabolic, physical fitness, obesity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: HBCT-OB-2026; Ratchadapisek Postdoctoral (Other Grant/Funding Number: Chulalongkorn University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) may be shared upon reasonable request after publication of the study results and approval by the principal investigator.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No