The Effect of Eight Weeks of Moderate-intensity Interval Aerobic Training on Body Composition Indices of Chemical Warfare Veterans

Sedentary lifestyle and physical fitness decline due to war-related complications lead to body composition changes in chemical warfare veterans and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of interval aerobic training on body composition indices of chemical warfare veterans. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design. The sample consisted of 17 chemical warfare veterans with 35-25% disability percentage who were randomly assigned to either an experimental (10 subjects) or a control group (7 subjects). The chemical warfare veterans participated in an interval aerobic training program at 60-45% heart rate reserve intensity for eight weeks. Body composition indices were measured using a Body Composition Analyzer model 356 made in South Korea. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare pre-test and post-test means. Interval aerobic training had a significant effect on body weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, fat-free mass, visceral fat levels, and visceral fat area. The training intervention did not have a significant effect on total body water, soft lean mass, and body minerals (P<0.05). The reduction in body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels following eight weeks of interval aerobic training leads to a favorable change in body composition and a decrease in overweight and obesity and potentially obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk factors.