The Effect of Treadmill-Based Physical Activity on Triglyceride Levels and Hepatic Histopathology in High-Fructose Diet (HFD)- Induced Obese Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Obesity, a metabolic disorder, is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the body. A key contributing factor to obesity is insufficient physical activity. Utilizing a treadmill for physical activity can stimulate fat metabolism, thereby reducing fat accumulation in adipose tissue. This study aimed to investigate the effect of treadmill-based physical activity on elevated triglyceride levels and the amelioration of hepatic histopathological damage in high-fructose diet (HFD)-induced obese rats (Rattus norvegicus). Male Wistar rats, aged 6-8 weeks and weighing 150-200g, were used as experimental animals. Obesity was induced in the rats using a 40% HFD, with an obesity condition determined by a Lee obesity index greater than 0.3. The rats were divided into four treatment groups: a control group, an obese control group, an obese group subjected to 5 minutes/day of treadmill physical activity, and an obese group subjected to 10 minutes/day of treadmill physical activity. Triglyceride levels were measured using the GPO-PAP (Enzymatic Spectrophotometry) method, and histopathological slides of liver organs were prepared using Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Triglyceride data were analyzed using quantitative statistical methods, while liver histopathological images were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The results demonstrated that treadmill-based physical activity for both 5 minutes/day and 10 minutes/day significantly reduced triglyceride levels (p<0.05). Notably, 10 minutes/day of treadmill activity yielded the best results, decreasing triglyceride levels by 67.93%. Furthermore, the liver histopathology showed a reduction in fat accumulation. In conclusion, 10 minutes/day of treadmill-based physical activity is an effective intervention for lowering triglyceride levels and mitigating hepatic steatosis in obese rats.