Background: Burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to rise worldwide, while low and middle income countries share a disproportionally high incidence and burden of the disease. Preventive strategies aimed at addressing modifiable risk factor such as excess abdominal adiposity have been advocated. However, it is not clear if reduction in abdominal adiposity will influence CVD risk classification; and how such effect, if any, may impact on quality of life.

Aim: This study investigated whether reduction in abdominal adiposity following 12-week exercise programme and will influence cardiovascular risk classification and quality of life in Apparently Healthy Sedentary Nigerian Adult Population

Methods: 105 apparently healthy prospective participants were recruited from the general population using posters and handbills in public places, which were randomly selected in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. 74 who met the inclusion criteria and gave voluntary consent completed the study. Participants were aged between 20 and 60 years, and were not engaged in competitive or recreational sports within the last 6 months. Ethical approval was obtained prior to commencement of study. CVD risk was classified according to the National Institutes of Health classification using Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) into normal and increased risk.  At baseline, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), Quality of life (QoL), WC and WHR of participants were taken; while Quality of life (QoL), WC and WHR were taken at the end of the 12-week exercise programme. QoL was evaluated using WHO QoL BREF. Participants received health education and went through aerobic exercise training thrice weekly for 12 weeks. Exercise comprised of circuit training at 65% maximum heart rate for 45 minutes. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to summarize the data, while independent t-test was used to test for significant difference in continuous variables.  Chi square was used to test for difference in categorical variables. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05.

Result: At baseline, parameters of participants were: age (35.4±9.7); BMI (28.9±4.7 kg/m²); WC (94.4±10.8cm) and QoL (65.6±9.1vs 67.6±9.4); with 48 (65%) participants having normal and 22 (35%) having increased CVD risk respectively. At the end of the 12-week exercise, there were significant differences in WC (94.4±10.8 vs 89.2±9.8cm); BMI (28.9±4.7 vs 24.5±8.2 kg/m²) and QoL (65.6±9.1 vs 78.2±11.4) compared with baseline. Post-exercise CVD risk classification showed that 56 (76%) had normal CVD risk and 18(24%) had increased risk. There was significant difference in the pre- and post- exercise CVD risk classification proportions, with a reduced number of participants with increased CVD risk.

Conclusion: Reduction in abdominal adiposity following a 12-week aerobic exercise programme resulted in changes in CVD risk classification and improvement quality of life in sedentary Nigerian adult population.