Acute Effects of High-intensity Circuit Training Using Body Weight on Body Composition Indices in Sedentary Collegiate Females

Abstract

High-intensity circuit training (HICT) has become increasingly popular for enhancing health and fitness. However, limited research exists on the effects of high-intensity circuit training using body weight (HICTBW) on body composition in sedentary young adults. This study aimed to explore the impact of a 4-week HICTBW program on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. A randomized controlled trial design was employed. Twenty sedentary collegiate females were randomly assigned to either a training group (n=10), which participated in a 4-week HICTBW program, or a control group (n=10), which did not engage in any training. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (r = 0.642 to 0.78), measuring body fat percentage, fat mass, muscle mass, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index (BMI). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare between and within groups. Although no significant differences in body composition variables were observed between pre- and post-training (p>0.05), slight positive changes were noted in all measured parameters. The lack of significant findings may be attributed to the short duration and frequency of the intervention. Future studies with extended training periods are recommended to better understand the potential impact of HICTBW on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. This research highlights the need for more comprehensive studies to validate the effectiveness of HICTBW in improving body composition among this population.