RESUMEN
Aims: Physical activity improves health in terms of cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal 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). Theglycated 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.