The effect of 12 weeks Circuit-resistance training on Cortisol, Body Composition and Muscular Strength in overweight young males

ABSTRACT: Resistance exercise has increasingly become a mode of exercise recommended for weight management and weight loss in obese individuals. Cortisol is an effective catabolic hormone in metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Circuit-resistance training on plasma cortisol, Body Composition and Muscular Strength in overweight young males. Twenty young males (age 17-19 years and BMI 27.48±1.5 kg/m2 (mean ± SE)) were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. Subjects performed Circuit-resistance training protocol with 60% 1RM, 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks. The level of cortisol hormone was measured using the ELISA method before and after 12 weeks. The results revealed that Cortisol (P=0.05) declined significantly. Although no significant differences were observed in body weight and BMI, body fat mass decreased and muscular strength increased significantly (P?0.05). We found that circuit resistance training can improve body composition, muscular strength and physiologic adaptations by decreasing the catabolic state in overweight young males.