Mohamed Rayeez A¹
Anu S²
Rajalakshmi Preethi G³
Saravanan PSL⁴
Jeyashree K⁵

¹Final MBBS,
²Professor & Head, Department of Physiology,
³Associate Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis
Velammal Medical College and Hospital,
Madurai, Tamilnadu, India
⁴Professor& Head
Department of Physiology,
Government Sivagangai Medical College,
Sivagangai
⁵Scientist
National Institute of Epidemiology,
ICMR, Chennai,
Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

• Introduction: Around 20% of the population in Tamilnadu has central/abdominal obesity. Obesity related metabolic and cardiovascular complications are associated mainly with abdominal obesity. Though moderate or high intensity exercises do have some effect in reducing abdominal fat, there are only very few studies depicting the importance of spot specific abdominal exercises on abdominal fat. Supine slow double leg exercise is one such exercise practiced commonly. Hence the present study aims to find out the effect of slow leg exercise on abdominal fat.
• Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of physiology of a private medical college 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Out of the 40 overweight individuals recruited, 20 were included in the study and 20 in the control group. The parameters measured include Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) and Abdominal Subcutaneous fat (SAT) by ultrasound.
• Results and discussion: BMI, WHR and SAT had decreased significantly (p value < 0.001) in the slow leg raising group with no significant changes in BMI,WHR in the Control group except for significant increase in SAT. No significant difference existed between the study and the control group in the baseline parameters.
• Conclusion: Supine leg raise exercise when performed slowly, by exerting isometric force on the abdominal muscles, help to reduce the abdominal fat.

Keywords: Abdominal fat, central obesity, Slow Leg raise exercise