Cardiorespiratory Responses to Submaximal Exercise in Obese and Non-Obese Young Adults at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Obesity alters cardiovascular and respiratory mechanics at rest and during exercise, creating physiological inefficiencies that may accelerate morbidity risk in young adults. This study compared cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal exercise between obese and non-obese young adults at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Sixty undergraduate students, comprising 30 classified as obese and 30 normal-weight based on body mass index, were recruited. A standardised submaximal cycle ergometer protocol was applied, with heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation measured at rest, during exercise stages, and at three minutes of recovery. Unpaired t-tests and ANOVA were used for comparison. Results showed that obese participants had significantly higher resting heart rate and blood pressure, with steeper exercise-induced cardiovascular responses relative to non-obese counterparts. Respiratory rate during exercise was significantly elevated, and recovery heart rate normalisation was prolonged in obese students. Oxygen saturation dipped slightly more in obese participants during intense exercise stages. The study concludes that obesity imposes measurable cardiorespiratory inefficiency during submaximal exercise in young adults in Awka, with implications for long-term fitness and cardiovascular risk. Weight management counselling and graded physical activity programmes are recommended for university health services. Keywords: obesity, submaximal exercise, cardiorespiratory response, young adults, Awka.