Effect of Steady Walking Steps and Increasing Steps on Body Composition in Overweight Participants

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the effect of increasing step and steady walking steps (approximately  10,000 steps a day) groups on body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), waist circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio (WHR) in overweight sedentary participants. Participants were recruited from students at Thammasat University. Individuals who had a sedentary lifestyle, aged 18-25 and BMI > 25 kg per m2 were randomized into three groups: (1) the control, (2) increasing steps and (3) steady walking steps (approximately 10,000 steps a day). The BMI, %BF, WC and WHR were measured initially before and after the 6-week intervention. The results found that, during the walking intervention, 30 individuals who completed (10 participants for each groups) were not significantly different in BMI and %BF among the three groups. However, 10 individuals who had the steady walking steps (approximately 10,000 steps a day) had a significantly lower %BF (-1.57%) compared with measurement prior to the study program (p<0.05). Therefore, an increased physical activity by the steady walking steps (approximately 10,000 steps a day) resulted in decreased %BF.