COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE ON BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL IN OBESE AND NORMAL WEIGHT YOUNG ADULT INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

The six-minute walk test is an easy and affordable method used to measure functional capacity. It uses the distance walked in six minutes, or the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), at their normal pace on a hard surface, like a 30-meter hallway. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of functional exercise (six minute walk test–6MWT) on blood glucose level in obese and normal weight young adult individuals. Measured parameters included body mass index (BMI), Blood glucose level, and distance covered (m) during the 6-minute walk test. The design required the subjects to walk back and forth on a 30-meter hallway at their normal pace for six minutes. Measurements were taken of the subjects blood glucose level before and after the six-minute walk test. The total number of meters walked was calculated by multiplying the counted and recorded number of laps traveled by 60 meters. The statistical analysis was performed with Graph Pad Prism Version 8.1. The standard error of mean (SEM) was used in graphs to display the results. The dependent and independent variable means were compared using the student t-test. P<0.05 was accepted as significant. The result revealed no significant change in blood glucose level in post 6MWT compared to pre 6MWT among obese and normal weight young adult individuals. But, There was a significant decrease in obese compared with normal weight post-6MWT, although there was no significant change in the pre-6MWT in obese compared with normal weight. It was observed that the 6MWT had more effect in obese individuals than in normal weight adult individuals.