Impact of whole-body vibration on anthropometric measurements and body composition in overweight and obese university students: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among university students is a significant public health concern. Consequently, identifying safe exercise modalities for this population is a priority. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of whole-body vibration (WBV) in university students classified as overweight or obese, focusing on anthropometric measurements and body composition. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted with a sample of 30 university students (both male and female) aged 18-25 years. Participants were allocated into two groups: the intervention group (WBV group), which received whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy together with selected exercises, and the control group (Sham WBV group), which received sham WBV alongside the same exercises, administered thrice per week over a six-week period. The primary outcome measures included body mass index (BMI), assessed using a stadiometer and digital scale, and waist circumference (WC), measured using a tape measure. Secondary outcomes were evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) via a smart scale to determine the whole-body fat percentage (BF%), visceral fat, and lean mass (kg). Results: = 0.884, 0.29, and 0.199, respectively). These findings suggest that WBV may preferentially affect central fat distribution rather than overall body composition. Conclusion: WBV positively impacted the anthropometric measurements of overweight and obese university students, as observed by improvements in BMI and WC. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT06913231.