Efficiency of Land and Aquatic Based Exercises on the Reduction of Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels among Haramaya University Gymnasium and Swimming Pool Users

A study was conducted to investigate the comparative efficiency of land and aquatic based exercises on the reduction of blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels with equal demand of intensity, duration, frequency, and types of exercise. Both overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.00 kg/m2) individuals were involved in the study and the evaluation lasted twelve consecutive weeks. Individuals used for the study were HU Gymnasium and Swimming Pool users, aged twenty up to thirty five years old and free from any impairment or chronic diseases. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Twenty five overweight and obese individuals, men (n = 8) and women (n = 17) were recruited for the study and randomly assigned to land based (n=12) and aquatic exercise groups (n=13) with matched mode of exercise. Assessments to measure progress made after the exercise program were conducted in terms of reduction made in blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels; and promote HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA (using SPSS version 16 software) were used to analyze the data collected and test the significance of the aquatic and land based exercises. The study confirmed that water or aquatic exercise resulted in higher reduction of blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels for overweighed and obese individuals than land based exercise. Thus, overweighed and obese individuals are advised to use water based exercise than land based exercise to bring about significant reduction in blood cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels and to promote HDL (good cholesterol) levels in the blood. Keywords: Obesity, Overweight, blood cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL (low density lipoprotein), and HDL (high density lipoprotein