The Effects of Supervised Exercise Program on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Kuwait

Aims: Physical activity improves health in terms of cardiovascular fitness, musculo-skeletal fitness, body composition, and metabolism. The study aims to examine the effects of supervised exercise training on metabolic profile and health-related physical fitness parameters in Kuwait.
Study Design: A prospective observational study.
Place and Duration of Study: Fitness and Rehabilitation Center (Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait) between January 2012 and December 2013.
Methodology: We included 90 participants (44 women), mean age 48.6 (±14.4) years with adherence exceeding 50%. Outcome measures health-related physical fitness (measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and other secondary outcome measures including anthropometric data, vital signs, and glycemic profile values.
Results: Paired t-test was used to evaluate the effects of exercise training. Both diabetic and non-diabetic participants showed significant increase in peak oxygen consumption (3.0 ml∙min-1∙kg-1; 95% CI: 2.3 to 3.7; p <0.001). There was significant reduction in BMI (-0.6 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.9 to -0.3; p<0.001), waist circumference (-2.2cm; 95% CI: -3.4 to -1.0; p = 0.002) and body fat percentage (-0.9%; 95% CI: -1.4 to -0.3; p = 0.002). The glycated hemoglobin significantly decreased (p=0.001). Fasting blood glucose and lipid profile improved but were not statistically significant. The exercise intervention reduced the systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP by a mean of 0.6 (95% CI: -3.2 to 1.9; p = 0.63) and 2.6 mmHg (95% CI: -4.9 to -0.3; p=0.03) respectively, with the latter being statistically significant. Significant changes were also noted in variables of total handgrip (4.2 kg; 95% CI: 1.4 to 7.0; p=0.04) and push-up (4.2 repetition; 95% CI: 1.9 to 6.4; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The 12-week supervised exercise intervention used seems to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, glycemic control, diastolic BP and anthropometric measurements. This improvement can indicate that exercise decrease cardiovascular events and mortality.