Optimizing Adult Health: Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Selected Physical Fitness Components in Young Male Adults

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of a structured aerobic exercise program on cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and body mass index (BMI) among young male adults aged 18–25 years. A total of forty participants were selected through simple random sampling and equally divided into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group underwent a six-week aerobic exercise intervention, consisting of walking, slow running, running, cycling and dancing performed six days per week with progressive duration and intensity. Cardiovascular endurance was assessed using a standard step test, flexibility was measured via the Sit & Reach test and BMI was calculated using height and weight measurements. Pre and post-tests were conducted for both groups and data were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests at a 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance and flexibility among participants in the experimental group, whereas BMI remained statistically unchanged. The control group showed no significant changes in any variable, confirming the effectiveness of structured aerobic exercise in enhancing specific physical fitness components. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise is an effective intervention for improving cardiovascular health and flexibility among young adults. However, short-term aerobic training alone may not significantly affect BMI, highlighting the need for longer duration interventions combined with dietary and lifestyle modifications. The study provides valuable insights for physical education instructors, coaches and adults seeking evidence-based methods to enhance health and functional fitness through aerobic training.