The Effect of Aerobic Training and Caffeine Consumption on Quality of life and Life Expectancy in Overweight Men

Inappropriate diet and inactivity are the most important causes of overweight and obesity which have negative effect on individuals’ physical and mental health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of caffeine supplementation with aerobic training on quality of life and life expectancy in overweight men. 

In this quasi-experimental study, 60 overweight men (at age range 40-60 years with BMI ≥ 30) were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Control (C), (2) Caffeine supplement (Ca), (3) Aerobic training (AT), and (4) Ca+AT. Aerobic training was performed three times a week for eight weeks, each session for 25 to 40 minutes at 60-80% of maximum heart rate, and the caffeine supplementation groups consumed 5 mg/kg of caffeine daily in two servings. The research variables were evaluated by the Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Life Expectancy Questionnaire.  The data of the present study were also analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance in SPSS software (p≤0.05). 

Aerobic training increased total score of quality of life (p≤0.05), mental health (p ≤0.05) and life expectancy (p≤0.05) in overweight men. Caffeine supplementation increased total score of quality of life (p≤0.05). Also, the quality of life score with its subscales and life expectancy score in the aerobic + caffeine group were significantly higher than the control (p≤0.05), training (p≤0.05) and caffeine supplement (p≤0.05) groups. 

Aerobic training seems to be more desirable than caffeine consumption in improving quality of life and life expectancy; however, the interaction between aerobic training and caffeine consumption is more desirable than aerobic training and caffeine consumption alone in improving quality of life and life expectancy.