Background: Obesity is currently a worldwide disease that is affecting every 1 out of 3 individuals regardless of their gender or ethnicity. It is also associated with decreased pulmonary functions that hinders an individual to efficiently carry on activities of daily living without being exhausted.

Objective: This study determined the effects of 6-week combined strength and endurance training on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), ratio between FEV1 and FVC and exercise capacity upon Pakistani individuals with grade I and grade II obesity.

Methods: A Quasi experimental study was conducted in which 46 participants diagnosed with either grade I or grade II obesity were given both strength and endurance based training for 6 weeks, five sessions per week, 1 session per day. Parameters that included anthropometric data, respiratory parameters (FVE1, FVC, FVE1/FVC ratio) and exercise capacities were compared between initial and post interventional values.

RESULTS: Combined strength and endurance training induced an increase in six-minute walk duration (P < 0.05), forced vital capacity (P < 0.05), FVE1/FVC ratio from predicted value (P < 0.05). Individuals with grade II obesity had longer six-minute walk than grade I obese individuals. Grade I obese individuals had greater improvements in Forced Vital Capacity and FVE1/FVC ratios.

CONCLUSION: Combined endurance and strength-based training improves exercise capacity and respiratory parameters in both grade I and II obese individuals. Improvements in exercise capacity is more prominent in grade II individuals while improvements in respiratory parameters are more prominent in grade I individuals.

KEYWORDS: Exercise Tolerance, Obesity, 6 Minute Walk Test, Resistance Training,

Endurance Training, Forced Expiratory Volume