The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study
Abstract Obesity is an increasingly serious public health problem in China. This trend has surged in the population of university students and harmed their physical health. To identify the effects of Taichi exercise on lean body mass (LBM), waist circumference (WC), and maximal oxygen consumption (V...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06285-2 |
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| author | Yali Xu Feng Wang Lei Yang Wei Qiao Hutkemri Zulnaidi Annisaa Basar Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali |
| author_facet | Yali Xu Feng Wang Lei Yang Wei Qiao Hutkemri Zulnaidi Annisaa Basar Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali |
| author_sort | Yali Xu |
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| description | Abstract Obesity is an increasingly serious public health problem in China. This trend has surged in the population of university students and harmed their physical health. To identify the effects of Taichi exercise on lean body mass (LBM), waist circumference (WC), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for university students with obesity (USO). A total of 46 eligible participants were enrolled in this experiment, which involved a 12-week intervention. The participants had a mean age of 18.38 ± 0.73 years and a BMI of 31.50 ± 2.93. The sample consisted of 83.76% males and 16.24% females. LBM, WC, and VO2max were measured at both baseline and post-test. The instruments used included a body composition analyzer, measuring tape, and the VO2max formula. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Tai Chi had a significant positive effect on WC, reducing it by 3.38 cm (P = 0.004, 95% CI, d = − 0.274), and on LBM, increasing it by 0.87 kg (P = 0.030, 95% CI, d = 0.081). However, it had no significant effect on VO2max, which increased by 1.7 mL/kg/min (P = 0.284, 95% CI, d = 0.326) in USO. Similarly, stretching exercises significantly reduced WC by 4.68 cm (P = 0.007, 95% CI, d = − 0.467) but had no significant effects on VO2max, which increased by 0.12 mL/kg/min (P = 0.991, 95% CI, d = 0.227), or on LBM, which increased by 0.40 kg (P = 0.547, 95% CI, d = 0.050) for USO. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between the Tai Chi and control groups in WC, VO2max, or LBM (p = 0.057) among USO. Besides of the significant positive effects on waist circumstance, Taichi exercise also shown optimism benefits on lean body mass. Taichi exercise is better than normal exercise on physical health for university students with obesity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dcdf2ee0be78401eb064e7e91d4dd3f6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dcdf2ee0be78401eb064e7e91d4dd3f62025-08-20T03:38:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-06285-2The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment studyYali Xu0Feng Wang1Lei Yang2Wei Qiao3Hutkemri Zulnaidi4Annisaa Basar5Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali6Department of Basic Course, Qilu Institute of TechnologyFaculty of Sports Science and Coaching, Sultan Idris Education UniversityDepartment of Basic Course, Qilu Institute of TechnologyCollege of Physical Education, Anqing Normal UniversityDepartment of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of MalayaDepartment of Educational Foundations and Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Education, University of MalayaDepartment of Educational Foundations and Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Education, University of MalayaAbstract Obesity is an increasingly serious public health problem in China. This trend has surged in the population of university students and harmed their physical health. To identify the effects of Taichi exercise on lean body mass (LBM), waist circumference (WC), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for university students with obesity (USO). A total of 46 eligible participants were enrolled in this experiment, which involved a 12-week intervention. The participants had a mean age of 18.38 ± 0.73 years and a BMI of 31.50 ± 2.93. The sample consisted of 83.76% males and 16.24% females. LBM, WC, and VO2max were measured at both baseline and post-test. The instruments used included a body composition analyzer, measuring tape, and the VO2max formula. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Tai Chi had a significant positive effect on WC, reducing it by 3.38 cm (P = 0.004, 95% CI, d = − 0.274), and on LBM, increasing it by 0.87 kg (P = 0.030, 95% CI, d = 0.081). However, it had no significant effect on VO2max, which increased by 1.7 mL/kg/min (P = 0.284, 95% CI, d = 0.326) in USO. Similarly, stretching exercises significantly reduced WC by 4.68 cm (P = 0.007, 95% CI, d = − 0.467) but had no significant effects on VO2max, which increased by 0.12 mL/kg/min (P = 0.991, 95% CI, d = 0.227), or on LBM, which increased by 0.40 kg (P = 0.547, 95% CI, d = 0.050) for USO. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between the Tai Chi and control groups in WC, VO2max, or LBM (p = 0.057) among USO. Besides of the significant positive effects on waist circumstance, Taichi exercise also shown optimism benefits on lean body mass. Taichi exercise is better than normal exercise on physical health for university students with obesity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06285-2Taichi exerciseUniversity students with obesityLBMWCVO2max |
| spellingShingle | Yali Xu Feng Wang Lei Yang Wei Qiao Hutkemri Zulnaidi Annisaa Basar Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study Scientific Reports Taichi exercise University students with obesity LBM WC VO2max |
| title | The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study |
| title_full | The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study |
| title_fullStr | The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study |
| title_short | The effects of Tai Chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Chinese university students with obesity: A quasi experiment study |
| title_sort | effects of tai chi exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in chinese university students with obesity a quasi experiment study |
| topic | Taichi exercise University students with obesity LBM WC VO2max |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06285-2 |
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