Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Lipid Profile and Cardiopulmonary Endurance among Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Research Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight and obesity have become a major public health concern as they contribute to the development of co-morbid conditions like Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and respiratory problems, causing a significant impairment in lipid metabolism, known as dyslipidaemia. Resistance and Aerobic Exercise (AE) are effective in reducing dyslipidaemia and improving cardiopulmonary endurance, but require moderate to high intensity to gain these physiological benefits. Need of the study: Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) emerged as a novel exercise modality that uses a compression device in the proximal part of the limb to restrict blood flow. To our knowledge, existing evidence for the BFRT effect on lipid profile and cardiopulmonary endurance is limited and available studies are also confined to specific demographic cohorts, i.e., young obese males, overweight females, or other special populations. Therefore, the authors will evaluate the effectiveness of BFRT along with AE on these outcomes in both males and females. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of AE along with BFRT on lipid profile and cardiopulmonary endurance among overweight and obese individuals. Materials and Methods: An assessor blinded randomised controlled trial will take place at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India, from May 2026 to March 2027. Sixty participants aged 18-35 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 will be divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups will engage in treadmill walking for eight weeks (3 days/week, 45 minutes/session), while the experimental group will use a Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) cuff on their thighs. Lipid profiles and cardiopulmonary endurance will be measured at baseline and after eight weeks through a digital lipid analyser and a 2 km walk test, respectively. Statistical analysis will utilise a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test for within-group comparisons, and an independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for betweengroup comparisons, with p<0.05 considered significant.