Study on the Impact of Combined Exercise and Various Dietary Approaches Based on Digital Technology on the Body Composition of Obese College Students (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Obesity has become a global health crisis, with projections indicating that by 2030, the number of overweight or obese individuals in China will surge to 790 million. Lifestyle interventions are a crucial component of weight loss programs, yet digital, personalized, and theory- and evidence-based lifestyle interventions remain limited. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of a combination of various dietary approaches and exercise, based on digital technology, on the body composition of obese college students. METHODS A total of 129 college students (age: 18.3 ± 0.7 years, weight: 89.9 ± 13.6 kg, BMI: 30.6 ± 3.3 kg/m²) were recruited from Jiangxi Normal University. An 8-week weight loss intervention was conducted on obese college students using a combination of exercise and various dietary approaches based on digital intervention. The exercise regimen included two days per week of one-hour resistance training and at least five times per week of sunlight running, with each run not less than 2 km. The dietary interventions consisted of a low-calorie diet (LCD), a twice-per week fasting diet (TWF), and a 16/8 time-restricted feeding diet (TRF). Changes in body composition indicators (muscle mass, fat mass, and water content) were assessed before and after the intervention. Participants were divided into three groups (LCD, TWF, TRF) for the experiment. RESULTS The 8-week intervention led to improvements in the body composition of obese college students. Additionally, it was found that compared to baseline, the male participants in the TWF group experienced a significant reduction in fat indices, and the female participants in the LCD group also showed a significant decrease in fat indices after the 8-week intervention. CONCLUSIONS In the process of weight loss through the combination of exercise and dieting, using digital technology methods, various dietary approaches combined with exercise have distinct effects on body composition. Among the muscle indices, the TRF group experienced a rapid decrease in lean body mass at four weeks, which remained stable at eight weeks, with a slight increase observed in females. Regarding fat indices, males in the TWF group achieved better fat reduction, while females in the LCD group had a more significant decrease in fat mass. In terms of water content, both males and females in the TWF group maintained better hydration levels. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300073166