Effects of a Physical Exercise Program on the Level of Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure of Obese Workers in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Background: Obesity has become a public health problem in the world today, especially in the workplace, where workers are subjected to long-term work in a sitting position and in front of computers. The absence of a program of structured physical exercises in our context on obesity in a professional environment in Kinshasa motivated us to carry out this study. Objective: To investigate the effect of a structured exercise program on the level of physical activity and energy expenditure of obese workers. Methods: In a 6-month follow-up study, 157 obese patients with a mean age of 47 ± 9.54 years were enrolled in a 3-day, one-hour structured exercise program. Day of moderate to high intensity and walking combined with a nutritional education (low calorie, high fiber and vitamins) at the Multimodal Freight Management Office of Kinshasa between January and June 2014. We used the paired Student's T test to compare continuous variables before and after the programs. Results: A significant increase was obtained in six months of the structured exercise program combined with nutrition education for most of the studied parameters: number of steps on the working day (p <0.0001) ; number of steps on the weekend (p <0.0001); energy expenditure on the working day (p <0.0001); energy expenditure on the weekend day (p<0.0001). In contrast, weight, Body Mass Index, Waist circumference and Hip Abdomen Ratio significantly decrease d respectively: weight (p<0.0001); Body Mass Index (p <0.0001); waist circumference (p < 0.0001); Hip Abdomen Ratio (p <0.0001).Conclusion: Structured exercise combined with nutrition education significantly increases the level of physical activity, energy expenditure and decreases weight, Body Mass Index, waist circumference and morbidity and mortality risk of obese workers.