12-weeks of Aqua Zumba Fitness® and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Women

Abstract

Background: The rate of obesity is consistently increasing in Malaysia, especially among women, which exposes the population to various metabolic and other mortality diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 12 weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness programmes on metabolic diseases indicators for obese young and middle-age women. Methods: Eighty previously sedentary obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) women (age 20-59 years old) were randomized to either a 12-week Aqua Zumba® regimen (AZ, n=40) or control group (C, n=40). Experiment group were involved in 12-weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness programmes, 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session, with an intensity of 50-75% of maximum heart rate. Body fat percentage (BF%), visceral fat (VF), waist circumference (WC), resting blood pressure (RBP), blood glucose (BG), and blood lipids (HDL and TG) were measured at baseline (week-0) and post-exercise intervention (week-13). Result: A significant difference (p<0.05) was found in changes of BF%, VF, WC, RBP, BG, HDL, and TG following 12-weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness programmes in both obese young and middle-age groups. However, the obese young group demonstrated significant superior changes with improvements of BF%, WC, and BG (p<0.05) compared to obese middle-age group. Conclusion: As a result, Aqua Zumba® Fitness elicits favorable changes in all metabolic parameters among obese women. Furthermore, the aging process affects metabolic responses towards exercise, with less prolific results in improvement of BF%, WC, and BG found in the middle-age group.