Influence of a 16-week training program with Muay Thai components on BMI, body composition, and risk of sudden cardiac death among obese men

Background and Study Aim: Physical activity is an essential component of a non-drug therapy method for obese individuals. Aim of this study is knowledge about influence of a 16-week training program with Muay Thai components on BMI, body composition, and the risk of sudden cardiac death among obese men. Material and Methods: The study involved 24 obese men with BMI 36.49 +/- 4.05 kg/m(2). They were divided into experimental and control groups of 12 persons each. The experimental group consisted of men aged 47.83 +/- 5.73 years, including six persons with class I obesity (BMI = 30.40 to 34.56 kg/m(2)), three with class II obesity (BMI = 35.57 to 37.50 kg/m(2)) and also three with class III obesity (BMI = 40.01 to 46.60 kg/m(2)). The control group consisted of men aged 47.17 +/- 5.38 years, including four persons with class I obesity (BMI = 31.00 to 32.93 kg/m2), five with class II obesity (BMI = 35.32 to 38.30 kg/m(2)) and three with class III obesity (BMI = 40.90 to 43.60 kg/m2). During the experiment the experimental group was engaged in a special 16-week training program with Muay Thai components. Body weight, BMI, body component composition, and risk of sudden cardiac death (according to ECG data and heart rate variability) were measured twice before and after the experiment. The men of the experimental group underwent pedagogical testing twice. Results: A reliably significant decrease in body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage in general and separately in the limbs and abdomen was found among men of the experimental group after 16 weeks of training with Muay Thai components (p<0.05). The men in the experimental group, relative to the control group, 10 HRV (heart rate variability) indicators had shown reliably significantly improvement, which had a positive effect on the activity of the cardiovascular system. As a result, the risk of sudden cardiac death decreased among men of the experimental group. Their physical fitness indicators (p<0.05) had also shown significant increase. Conclusions: We determined the positive influence of a 16-week training program with Muay Thai components on body weight, BMI, body component composition, heart rate variability, risk of sudden cardiac death, and physical fitness of obese men. We are recommending this program for obese men in their 40s and 60s who follow a sedentary lifestyle.