A Pilot Study on the Effect of Heart Rate Training Zone 2 on Twelve Obese Young Adults

Excessive fat accumulation leads to increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, ultimately contributing to early mortality. The study aims to explore the impact of 150 minutes per week of cardiovascular exercise within heart rate training zone 2 (60-69% of the maximum heart rate) on the metabolic factors in sedentary young adults with obesity. A retrospective dataset of 12 young adults was collected from a fitness program conducted by the university health centre between May and June 2023. The hypothesis testing for a paired sample was conducted to determine if each parameter changed after six weeks of intervention. There is a significant improvement in weight loss, body fat percentage, fat mass and waist circumference by implementing a minimum of 150 minutes per week of cardio exercise in heart rate training zone 2. More research is necessary over an extended duration to validate the conclusions of this study and establish whether the outcomes are temporary, permanent, or plateau.