LIU Juan, LYU Wenjuan, LIU Fuding
Objective To explore the effects of a low-calorie diet combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, glucose-lipid metabolism and cardiopulmonary function among female college students with overweight, and to provide a basis for developing more effective weight loss and health improvement strategies. Methods Eighty-five female overweight college students were recruited. With a random number table method, they were randomly divided into the low-calorie diet (LCD) group (n=43) and the control group (n=42). The diets for both groups were customized by a clinical nutritionist, with the LCD group receiving a daily caloric intake of 1,000-1,200 kCal and the control group receiving 1,400-1,800 kCal per day. On the basis of controlled diets, both groups underwent HIIT three times a week for an intervention duration of 12 weeks. We detected and compared the changes in body composition (including weight, body mass index, total body fat percentage, muscle mass, upper body fat, lower body fat and total body water), glycolipid metabolism (including glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, insulin resistance index, insulin function index, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholestrol and high-density lipoprotein cholestrol) and cardiopulmonary function (heart rate, vital capacity index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures) before and after the intervention between the two groups. Results Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in the indicators related to body composition, glycolipid metabolism and cardiopulmonary function between the two groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, changes in body composition indicators revealed that the LCD group showed significantly decreases in weight (62.15±5.22)kg, body mass index (24.51±2.35)kg/m2, total body fat percentage (30.65±3.41%), upper body fat (2.33±0.42)kg and lower body fat (3.01±0.99)kg compared with the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). After the intervention, changes in glycolipid metabolism indicators displayed that the LCD group had lower levels of glycated hemoglobin (6.43±0.73%), fasting blood glucose (6.32±1.04) mmol/L, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (9.03±1.21) mmol/L, total cholesterol (4.21±0.67) mmol/L, triacylglycerol (1.46±0.38) mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholestrol (2.56±0.59) mmol/L, and a lower insulin resistance index (2.81±0.46) than the control group, but had a higher insulin function index compared with the control group, with all differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). After the intervention, cardiopulmonary function indicators of the LCD group showed that the vital capacity index significantly increased, while the systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased, with statistically significant differences compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Implementing a 12-week intervention involving a low-calorie diet combined with HIIT for the female overweight college students can significantly improve their body composition, glycolipid metabolism and cardiopulmonary function.
