Résumé
Background:Central/abdominal obesity is associated with metabolic and vascular complications than whole body obesity. High intensity exercises were generally proven to reduce total body fat as well as regional fat. Conflicting results were observed with the effects of specific abdominal exercises on abdominal fat. Hence the present study was done to find out the sole effect of double straight leg raise exercise on abdominal fat before and after 6 weeks of training and to compare with that of the control group. Methods: A total of 40 obese students of a private medical college were recruited for the study and divided into control (n=20) and leg raising group (n=20).The study was conducted for 5 days a week for 6 weeks during September to October 2017. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) and Abdominal Subcutaneous fat using ultrasound was measured. Results: Paired and unpaired t test was used for statistical analysis. A significant decrease in BMI and Abdominal subcutaneous fat( p value < 0.001, < 0.017)was observed in the leg raising group with no significant change in WHR( p value<0.968). Control group showed no significant change in BMI& WHP ( p value < 0.199, < 0.072) except for increase(( p value < 0.035) in abdominal subcutaneous fat. Conclusion: Leg raising exercises help to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat &Body weight but not the abdominal girth and if practiced along with other types of abdominal exercises may yield better results.